Affiliation:
1. School of Nursing and Midwifery La Trobe University Melbourne Victoria Australia
2. Judith Lumley Centre La Trobe University Melbourne Victoria Australia
3. The Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne Victoria Australia
Abstract
It is estimated that over 1 billion people worldwide have a disability. In Australia, 9% of women of childbearing age have a disability, but data on disability status for women accessing maternity services are not routinely collected and data collection processes are inconsistent. Maternal disability may affect perinatal outcomes, but to understand what factors might be amenable to interventions to improve outcomes, accurate data collection on disability status is essential. This opinion piece reflects on disability identification within maternity services in Australia, identifying areas for policy and practice change.
Subject
Obstetrics and Gynecology,General Medicine
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