Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...

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Foreword by the HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme
On behalf of the HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme (formerly the Crisis
Pregnancy Agency), I welcome the findings of this literature review
relating to intellectual disability, pregnancy, counselling, and crisis
pregnancy.
Support to People with an Intellectual Disability who are
Accessible
and Appropriate of Provision on <strong>Review</strong> <strong>Literature</strong>
Experiencing Crisis Pregnancy
The study, which was jointly commissioned by the National Disability
Authority and the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, aimed to describe the key
challenges faced by women with intellectual disabilities in accessing
health and social work services during crisis pregnancy. The study also
aimed to identify international models of good practice regarding crisis
pregnancy counselling and support services for women with intellectual
disabilities experiencing a crisis pregnancy.
The comprehensive examination of Irish and international literature
presented in the report reveals that there is very little research
investigating crisis pregnancy among women with intellectual disability.
However, the review does reveal specific challenges in relation to
preventing crisis pregnancy for women with intellectual disability,
such as lack of knowledge surrounding sexual relationships, increased
vulnerability to sexual exploitation and lack of appropriate support
services.
The review also demonstrates that sexual health care and relationships
for women with intellectual disability are complicated by legal and
technical issues surrounding her capacity to consent, both to medical
treatment (including contraception) and to sexual intercourse. Negative
attitudes to sexual activity among people with disabilities, a desire to
protect women from exploitation and lack of specialised care to enable
women to participate in healthcare and reproductive decision-making
can compromise the level of care a woman with an intellectual disability
receives.
While the review identifies many challenges and barriers faced by
women with intellectual disability it also demonstrates that providing
appropriate education and support services, supported by an effective
legal framework, can improve such women’s participation in decisions