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Contraceptive choices for women with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- EARLE Sarah, et al
- Publisher:
- Open University. Faculty of Health and Social Care
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 66
- Place of publication:
- Milton Keynes
This report presents key findings from interviews undertaken with 19 women with learning disabilities about their experiences of contraceptive decision-making. The stories were gathered by an inclusive team of female researchers from the Open University who interviewed women across a range of UK settings.The research looked specifically at why women believe they are receiving contraceptive care, how have women made decisions about what sort of contraception would be useful to them, whether they feel supported to make contraceptive decisions, and the type of support the women have received to understand contraceptive care and its implications. The research found that women’s experiences of contraceptive decision-making vary hugely, as do levels of experience, knowledge and understanding. One key finding reported was that women appreciate staff who will listen carefully to concerns about contraception and relationships and support then to access the best contraception care. Other key findings include that: a few women make very independent choices about sex and contraception and others are supported to make contraceptive choices by family, friends, advocates and health and social care professionals; women are sometimes on contraception because they are not trusted or believed, or because they are thought to be ‘at risk’ of pregnancy and abuse; some women do not receive suitable information or advice to make informed choices and decisions; and some women reported having been forced to use contraception when it was not needed. Drawing on the research finding, the report sets out implications for policy, practice and future research to help support women with learning disabilities to make appropriate contraceptive choices. (Edited publisher abstract)