The Philippines has ratified the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and recently passed domestic
legislation protecting the sexual and reproductive rights of people with
disability. However women in the Philippines continue to report barriers to
sexual and reproductive health services, and there is limited empirical
evidence available to inform policy makers’ efforts to respond. This study aims
to contribute to the available evidence by examining service providers’
perceptions of disability and their experiences providing sexual and
reproductive health services to women with disability.
The study was conducted as part of a larger three-year
program of participatory action research that aims to improve the sexual and
reproductive health of women with disabilities in the Philippines. Fourteen
in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions were conducted with a total
of thirty-two sexual and reproductive health service providers in Quezon City
and Ligao. Qualitative data were analysed to identify key themes in
participants’ discussion of service provision to women with disability.
Analysis of service providers’ accounts suggests a range of
factors undermine provision of high quality sexual and reproductive health
services to women with disability. Service providers often have limited
awareness of the sexual and reproductive health needs of women with disability
and inadequate understanding of their rights. Service providers have had very
little training in relation to disability, and limited access to the resources
that would enable them to provide a disability inclusive service. Some service
providers hold prejudiced attitudes towards women with disability seeking
sexual and reproductive health services, resulting in disability-based
discrimination. Service providers are also often unaware of specific factors
undermining the health of women with disability, such as violence and abuse.
Recent legislative change in the Philippines opens a window
of opportunity to strengthen sexual and reproductive health service provision
across the country. However the development of services that are
disability-inclusive will require substantial efforts to address supply-side
barriers such as prejudiced service provider attitudes and limited capacity.
Disability inclusion must be prioritised for the national goal of responsible
parenthood and reproductive health to be realised for all.
Full article
at:
By:
1Nossal Institute for Global Health,
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne,
Victoria 3010, Australia
2Social Development Research Centre, De La
Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila, 1004, Philippines
3Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School
of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010,
Australia
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