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Depressive symptoms in older female carers of adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- CHOU Y. C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(12), December 2010, pp.1031-1044.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study aimed to examine the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among primary older female family carers of adults with intellectual disabilities. In total, 350 female family carers aged 55 and older took part and completed the interview survey in their homes. The survey package contained standardised scales to assess carer self-reported depressive symptoms, social support, caregiving burden and disease and health, as well as adult and carer sociodemographic information. Multiple linear regressions were used to identify the factors associated with high depressive symptoms. The results showed that between 64% and 72% of these carers were classified as having high depressive symptoms. The factors associated with carer self-reported depressive symptoms were carer physical health, social support and caregiving burden; overall, the carer self-reported physical health was a stronger factor associated with depressive symptoms than their physical disease status. The level of the adult with intellectual disabilities' behavioural functioning and the carer age, marital status, employment status, education level and the family income level were not significantly associated with carer depressive symptoms. The results highlight the importance of addressing the healthcare of these carers, including physical care, mental care and support needs.
Exercising choice and control - women with learning disabilities and contraception
- Author:
- McCARTHY Michelle
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 38(4), December 2010, pp.293-302.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This research project investigated contraception use amongst women with learning disabilities. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were held with 23 women with learning disabilities, aged between 20 and 51, about their experience of being prescribed contraception. In addition, a postal survey was returned by 162 general practitioners across two counties in England which included questions about their contraception prescribing practices to women with learning disabilities, and how they dealt with issues of capacity to consent to treatment. A service user group was also involved at different stages of the project. Most of the women reported that other people had made the key decisions about starting to use contraception and which method to use. Both the women and the doctors said they liked having a third party, such as a staff member or relative, present for the consultations. Many of the doctors were unclear about responding to issues of capacity to consent to treatment. The article discusses: the constraints on the women’s ability to make choices; the presence of carers in medical consultations; responding to capacity issues; and the need for training for healthcare professionals. An accessible research summary was produced to make the process and findings of the research available to the women with learning disabilities who took part in the study, as well as to any others who were interested, and extracts of this are included in this article.
A case note follow-up of women with intellectual disability referred for sterilization
- Author:
- ROY Meera
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 14(1), March 2010, pp.43-52.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
In the UK, sexual activity by people with intellectual disabilities caused concern for the Victorian society, who responded by encouraging segregation. Until 1975, women with such disabilities were being sterilized, either voluntarily or with parental consent. This was in accordance with the recommendations of the Brock committee in 1934. This paper describes a case note audit that was carried out to follow up women with intellectual disabilities referred for contraceptive sterilization 20 years ago. None of the women had been sexually active or become pregnant. Two had hysterectomies for medical indications at a younger age. The author suggests that women with intellectual disability should use reversible and less invasive methods of contraception before considering contraceptive sterilization. In conclusion, the paper indicates that although the assessments predated the Mental Capacity Act 2005, they were largely compliant with it.
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.
Written out of history: invisible women in intellectual disability social work
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, ATKINSON Dorothy
- Journal article citation:
- Australian Social Work, 63(1), March 2010, pp.4-17.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The area of intellectual disability is an important field of social work practice in both Britain and Australia. Yet this is also a multidisciplinary field in which the role of social workers, particularly women, in contributing to the lives of people with intellectual disability and their families has largely gone unnoticed. Focusing on England and Victoria, Australia in particular, this paper uses oral history interviews with 3 long-standing social workers, and documentary evidence including government reports and newspaper coverage, to explore the similarity in the roles of social workers in intellectual disability. It covers the period between the beginning of social work in this field, which in the case of England was 1929 and in Victoria 1952, until the end of the 1990s. Work with families is identified as being central in both countries, as well as mediating relationship between institutions and services, families, and the community, and service development and advocacy. The paper concludes by asking questions about the disappearance of identified social work positions in this field and how their previous roles are fulfilled.
Carer knowledge and experiences with menopause in women with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- WILLIS Diane S., WISHART Jennifer G., MUIR Walter J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 7(1), March 2010, pp.42-48.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Life expectancy for women with intellectual disabilities (ID) now significantly extended, but little is known about how carers support women with ID through menopause. This study examined carer knowledge of how menopause affects women with ID under their care and how they may help them to cope with it. Interviews were conducted with 69 carers (7 male, 62 female) from a range of backgrounds, all responsible for the care of one or more pre-, peri-, or post-menopausal women with ID. Findings showed that carers found difficulty in disentangling the psychological and physical consequences of the menopause from behaviours and symptoms arising from other causes. However, there was general recognition of the transitional importance of menopause and a widespread acknowledgment of the resilience that many women with ID show in coping with it. Carers emphasized the need for health resources to be better customized to the women's needs and for more relevant health education training for staff. The authors conclude that additional and new demands are placed on service provision as women with ID live longer, and that an increased awareness of health issues relating to menopause is needed.
Staffs' knowledge and perceptions of working with women with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems
- Authors:
- TAGGART L., MCMILLAN R., LAWSON A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(1), January 2010, pp.90-100.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
There is evidence suggesting that women are more likely than men to develop mental health problems; likewise there is literature indicating that people with intellectual disabilities are also more prone to developing mental ill health then the non-disabled population. The aim of this study was to explore a range of health and social care staffs' knowledge and perceptions of caring for women with ID who have mental health problems, focusing upon risk and resilient/protective factors and barriers to accessing care. The qualitative methodology used eight focus groups involving a total of 32 frontline hospital, community and residential staff across one region of the UK. Transcripts were subjected to thematic content analysis using Newell & Burnard's framework. Six inter-related risk factors were identified as potential causes for women with ID developing mental illness: having an ID and being female; unmet expectations; dysfunctional family upbringing; unstable relationships/loss of children; domestic violence; and negative life experiences. Hormonal issues were rarely acknowledged. Resilient/protective factors included being proactive, greater community participation, early recognition, and mental health maintenance. The authors discuss their results in light of current developments and policy within mainstream psychiatric gender approaches. They recommend greater recognition of a proactive health approach for both staff and women with an ID.