Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...

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Accessing services
• The literature acknowledges that there continue to be
inadequacies in relation to access to equitable healthcare for
women with intellectual disability, including pre- and post-natal
care for mothers and their infants. Women with intellectual
disability are likely to have difficulty accessing quality antenatal
care, given that health and social service providers are generally
ill-equipped to accommodate their special learning needs. Staff
perceptions of maternal ability play a role in decisions made
about appropriate healthcare delivery (McConnell et al., 2008).
Support to People with an Intellectual Disability who are
Accessible
and Appropriate of Provision on <strong>Review</strong> <strong>Literature</strong>
Experiencing Crisis Pregnancy
• Research findings in relation to how women with intellectual
disability interact with services included: low numbers of women
making contact with pregnancy advisory services (Burgen,
2008); reliance on others to make contact with services (Burgen,
2008); late recognition of pregnancy (Burgen, 2008; Mayes et
al., 2006); delayed decision-making and consideration of options
(Burgen, 2008; Mayes et al., 2006); difficulties in understanding
the information received and putting it into practice (James,
2004); information deficit based on having not been able to access
popular literature on pregnancy and parenthood (James, 2004)
Other problems highlighted by a UK-based disability organisation
in providing support to women with intellectual disability were
that women were often not known to learning disability services
during pregnancy and that there was a lack of integration across
services.
Tailoring services to intellectual disability
• The use of repetition, pictures and role play, the practice of
audio-taping consultations, and the availability of clearly
illustrated educational resources written in plain language
have been recommended as a way of contributing to effective
healthcare consultations (Klaar, 1999, McConnell, 2008).
• Good practice guidance on working with parents with learning
disabilities has recommended that identification of needs should
start when pregnancy is confirmed and that procedures, criteria