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Disparities in substance abuse treatment utilization among women with intellectual disability
- Author:
- SLAYTER Elspeth
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 15(2), 2016, pp.96-115.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Despite concerns about health disparities among women with intellectual disabilities, little is known about substance abuse treatment access in this population. Using standardised performance measures, treatment initiation and engagement were examined retrospectively for women aged 18 to 64 (N = 3,752), men with (N = 5,732) and women without intellectual disability (N = 493,446) from 49 states in the USA. Logistic regression models of utilisation were conducted. Women in the sample were less likely than men in the sample or women without intellectual disability to utilise treatment, suggesting both gender-related and disability-related barriers. Policy and practice implications for improving the health and welfare of women with intellectual disabilities are discussed. (Edited publisher abstract)
Cancer screening in women with intellectual disabilities an Irish perspective
- Authors:
- REIDY Mary, DENIEFFE Suzanne, FORAN Sinead
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 18(1), 2014, pp.51-60.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
In the Republic of Ireland, more than 8000 women with intellectual disabilities (IDs), aged 20 years and over, are registered for service provision. Their health needs challenge preventative health services including breast and cervical cancer screening programmes. This review explores the literature about cancer screening participation rates and issues related to screening for Irish women with IDs. Low cancer screening participation rates are evident in Irish women with IDs; and the women shed light on the barriers they perceive related to the screening experience. These experiences are reflected in the international literature for women with IDs. Further research involving the assessment of the breast and cervical cancer awareness in Irish women with IDs and their participation in cancer screening programmes is recommended. Strategies are required to increase their participation in screening programmes that may lead to the earlier diagnosis with better outcomes. (Publisher abstract)
Caregiver attitudes to gynaecological health of women with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- LIN Lan-Ping, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36(3), September 2011, pp.149-155.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Previous research has indicated with women with intellectual disability (ID) have reduced access to reproductive health care. As caregivers often take charge of healthcare issues for people with ID, this study aimed to describe caregiver attitudes and to examine determinants of acceptable gynaecological health for women with ID. A mailed-out, self-administered, structured questionnaire was completed by 1152 caregivers responsible for the care of women with ID. Attitudinal perceptions of reproductive health were divided into 4 domains: menstruation, menopause, sex education, and preventive healthcare. Each of these domains had 5 issues which were scored according to the level of agreement with each issue. Most of the caregivers expressed agreement concerning the implementation of gynaecological healthcare checks, such as Pap smear or mammography tests. The study also revealed that more attention needs to be paid to the following factors: enforcing workplace training for reproductive health; strengthening public reproductive health services; and improving the reproductive health knowledge of caregivers.
Good practice in breast and cervical screening for women with learning disabilities
- Publisher:
- NHS Cancer Screening Programmes
- Publication year:
- 2000
- Pagination:
- 42p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
Summarising current guidance on access to health care for people with learning disabilities and explaining the issues of consent for breast or cervical screening, the purpose of this guidance is to describe good practice to ensure that women with learning disabilities have the same rights of access as all other women to the NHS Breast Screening Programme and the NHS Cervical Screening Programme. It is aimed at health or social services staff who provide support for women with learning disabilities, staff who work in screening programmes, and staff and family members who provide support for women with learning disabilities. The guidance recommends good practice so that wherever possible women with a learning disability can have access to information to enable them to make their own decisions about screening, know what to expect when they attend the screening so that it is a positive experience, and understand the possible consequences of screening and the need to be aware of changes in their own bodies. It includes criteria for assessing the capacity of individuals to consent to screening and recommendations on what to do if a woman is not able to consent. This publication has now been superseded by Equal access to breast and cervical screening for disabled women.
Why should I care about gender?
- Author:
- O'HARA Jean
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, 2(2), June 2008, pp.9-18.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article looks at the published literature on gender as it affects individual vulnerability and risk, and planning, organisation and delivery of health care, with specific focus on the mental health and learning disabilities, and discusses them in the context of recent government policy and guidance. It calls for urgent gender-specific research to understand the key issues facing men and women with learning disabilities, and a rights-based approach to access to education, health care and a competent and informed workforce.
Understanding our bodies, understanding ourselves: the menstrual cycle, mental health and women with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- DITCHFIELD Hedy, BURNS Jan
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 9(4), October 2004, pp.24-32.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Reviews the evidence for vulnerability in women with learning disabilities to a range of physical and mental health problems, with special emphasis on menstruation. Describes a qualitative research project on the experience of learning-disabled women in relation to menstruation, concluding by emphasising the need for services to communicate information on this subject in more sensitive and appropriate ways.
Women be healthy: evaluation of a women's health curriculum for women with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- LUNSKY Yona, STRAIKO Amy, ARMSTRONG Sharon
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 16(4), December 2003, pp.247-253.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Insufficient attention has been paid towards treating the unique health needs of women with intellectual disabilities. This paper describes an 8-week curriculum, 'Women Be Healthy', developed for women with intellectual disabilities to help them become more equal partners in their health care. The curriculum includes psycho-education, coping skills training, exposure to the medical setting and assertiveness training. Twenty-two women completed assessments of health knowledge, health behaviour beliefs and coping strategies, prior to and following participation in the 8-week curriculum, which took place in a group setting at a clinic for people with intellectual disabilities. Women showed significant improvements in health knowledge, health behaviour beliefs and coping strategies following intervention, and maintained some of these treatment gains (health knowledge and health behaviour beliefs) at a 10-week follow-up. 'Women Be Healthy' is an example of a group-based intervention that helps women with intellectual disabilities become more knowledgeable and perhaps more comfortable with health-care procedures.
Handicapped and impaired in Great Britain: part 1; an enquriy carried out on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Security, The Scottish Home and Health Department, The Welsh Office - in conjunction with other Government Departments
- Authors:
- HARRIS Amelia I., COX Elizabeth, SMITH Christopher R.W
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Office of Population Censuses and Surveys
- Publication year:
- 1971
- Pagination:
- 360p.,tables.
- Place of publication:
- London
Women's health: how councils are making a difference
- Author:
- LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
- Publisher:
- Local Government Association
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Place of publication:
- London
These case studies illustrate how local government is working to ensure women's health is a priority in all they do. Although women live longer than men on average, they spend a significantly greater proportion of their lives in ill health and disability compared to men. To combat this, the government in England has published its first ever Women's Health Strategy. The strategy sets out a six-point plan to tackle the problems, calling for better representation to ensure women's voices are heard, improved access to services, better information and education, greater understanding of how women's health affects their experience in the workplace and improved data gathering and research. This collection of case studies shows the breadth of the work going on, from Lancashire's push to create a menopause-friendly environment for staff to Newcastle's social media campaign to get hard-to-reach women to come forward for cervical screening. Others, such as Surrey, are doing great working helping women caught up in the criminal justice system, while Liverpool has set up hubs to improve access to reproductive and sexual health services. If the ambitions of the strategy are to be achieved, local government will have a critical role. (Edited publisher abstract)
The experience and management of menstruation for women with learning disabilities
- Author:
- RODGERS Jackie
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 6(1), January 2001, pp.36-44.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article describes a three-phase study to investigate the experience and management of menstruation for women with learning disabilities. It focuses on the findings of the second phase of the study, which looked at the experiences of carers and health professionals. It describes the difficult issues that can arise when providing assistance around menstruation. The findings are discussed in relation to ideologies and sensitivities that exist around gender, sexuality and menstruation.