Experiences of Women with Disabilities in Accessing Maternal Healthcare Services: A South African Case Study

Access to maternal healthcare services is a challenge in most low- and middle-income countries. South Africa is one of the countries striving to improve the accessibility of maternal healthcare services. Although South Africa has put some interventions in place to improve the accessibility of maternal healthcare services, vulnerable women including women with disabilities are still facing numerous challenges when trying to access these services. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of women with disabilities in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa in accessing public maternal healthcare services. The objectives of this study were to describe the experiences of women with disabilities in accessing maternal healthcare services during pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum care; explore the inhibitors of access to maternal healthcare services for women with disabilities; and explore the facilitators of access to maternal healthcare services for women with disabilities. Twelve women with disabilities (four with physical impairments, four with hearing impairments and four with visual impairments) were interviewed for this study. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed utilising the Framework of Assessing Access to Maternal Healthcare Services by Peters et al., 2008. Our study found that narrow passages and information in inaccessible formats were a challenge for women with visual impairments. Women with hearing impairments faced communication difficulties due to the lack of sign language interpreters in most facilities. Moreover, healthcare professionals displayed unfavourable attitudes toward women with hearing impairments, and these women were often overlooked when seeking help. The women with physical impairments encountered inaccessible buildings, narrow passages, small consultation rooms and equipment that is not adjustable, such as beds and scales.