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Women with cognitive impairment and unplanned or unwanted pregnancy: a 2-year audit of women contacting the Pregnancy Advisory Service
- Author:
- BURDEN Brenda
- Journal article citation:
- Australian Social Work, 63(1), March 2010, pp.18-34.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The aim of this project was to develop understanding of the experience of women with intellectual disabilities and women with acquired brain injuries in relation to unplanned or unwanted pregnancies. The records of the Pregnancy Advisory Service (PAS) at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne across a 2-year period were examined. Details of 20 women with cognitive impairments, who had contacted PAS for support with an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, were found and their case notes examined. Many of these women had faced significant barriers to reproductive choices. The majority of the women had needed someone to facilitate their first contact with PAS; one quarter had contacted PAS too late for the option of the abortion they were seeking; one quarter were in significant conflict with their support people over the pregnancy; almost half of the women contacted PAS significantly late in their pregnancy; and one quarter (more than half of those who already had children) were currently involved with child protection services. The audit suggests that women with cognitive impairments need more accessible information on sexual and reproductive health, and assistance to access pregnancy information and services. It is important that social workers and other professionals who work with women with cognitive impairments be aware of their greater vulnerability and often complex social situations, and adopt a proactive as well as supportive approach when working with these women.