Services for disabled mothers reviewed

GROUNDBREAKING research on the strengths and weakness of the state’s publicly funded maternity services for women with disabilities was announced yesterday.

The research, funded by the National Disability Authority, is being undertaken by Trinity College Dublin’s school of nursing and midwifery.

Researchers are hoping to interview up to 100 women with disabilities in relation to pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood.

They will chart the experiences of women with a physical disability; those who are blind or have a vision impairment and those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Researchers also want to talk to women who have mental health difficulties or have an intellectual disability.

The research team is being led by Prof Cecily Begley who said the needs of women with disabilities in relation to maternity services were not well understood.

Prof Begley said having a baby should be a positive experience for women with disabilities, as for other women.

“We are interested in meeting women who have a disability and who are willing to talk about their experiences of the maternity service either before, during or after having a baby,” she said.

Research assistant and a lecturer in midwifery, Denise Lawler, said that there was some anecdotal evidence to suggest that the needs of women with disabilities were not being met within the health services.

“Conducting research of this magnitude will give us the information to address their needs,” she said.

The research project, expected to be completed in November 2009, is a joint initiative between the National Disability Authority and the National Women’s Council of Ireland.

Women interested in taking part in the study or who want further information should contact Ms Lawler by email at [e-mail] or by phone on 086-3789758.