Modern approaches to obstetric and gynecological care for women with disabilities. Part 1
- 1Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
- 2SSI «Center of Innovative Medical Technologies of the NAS of Ukraine»; SI «Ukrainian Center of Motherhood and Childhood of the NAMS of Ukraine», Kyiv, Ukraine
Abstract
According to global statistics, one in six women of reproductive age lives with a disability. Although the pregnancy rate among women with disabilities is comparable to that of the general population. However, existing training programs for clinicians across all medical specialties contain substantial gaps in education regarding the perinatal care of women with disabilities. Given the increasing number of individuals with disabilities in Ukraine following the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, and the lack of evidence-based guidance on preconception counseling, antenatal care, prevention and management of pregnancy complications, delivery planning, and the safety of pharmacological interventions in women with disabilities, there is an urgent need to adapt obstetric and gynecological services to meet the specific healthcare needs of this population. Women with disabilities have a higher prevalence of pre-existing risk factors and underlying health conditions. Consequently, they are at increased risk for virtually all pregnancy complications, obstetric interventions during labor, and adverse perinatal outcomes, including relatively uncommon conditions such as autonomic dysreflexia, spasticity, and unrecognized onset of labor, cardiovascular complications, and others. The risk of specific adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes varies according to the type of disability. Compared with women without disabilities, the overall risk of any pregnancy complication is increased by 27% among women with physical disabilities, by 49% among women with cognitive disabilities, and by 53% among women with sensory disabilities. The most common pregnancy complications observed in women with physical disabilities include preterm birth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, and fetal growth restriction / small-for-gestational-age infant. Conclusions. Understanding the specific characteristics of pregnancy in this patient population is critically important not only for obstetricians and gynecologists but also for physicians of related specialties. The planning of individualized interventions and the development of personalized care pathways for pregnant women with disabilities require a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach.
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BibTeX
@article{shchurevska2026modern,
title = {{Modern approaches to obstetric and gynecological care for women with disabilities. Part 1}},
author = {O.D. Shchurevska and N.Y. Pedachenko and N.V. Kosei and Y.H. Pedachenko and I.P. Netskar and N.Y. Zhylka and V.A. Avdeeva},
journal = {Репродуктивная эндокринология},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.18370/2309-4117.2026.84.6-13},
url = {https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2026.84.6-13},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Modern approaches to obstetric and gynecological care for women with disabilities. Part 1
AU - O.D. Shchurevska
AU - N.Y. Pedachenko
AU - N.V. Kosei
AU - Y.H. Pedachenko
AU - I.P. Netskar
AU - N.Y. Zhylka
AU - V.A. Avdeeva
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Репродуктивная эндокринология
DO - 10.18370/2309-4117.2026.84.6-13
UR - https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2026.84.6-13
AB - According to global statistics, one in six women of reproductive age lives with a disability. Although the pregnancy rate among women with disabilities is comparable to that of the general population. However, existing training programs for clinicians across all medical specialties contain substantial gaps in education regarding the perinatal care of women with disabilities. Given the increasing number of individuals with disabilities in Ukraine following the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, and the lack of evidence-based guidance on preconception counseling, antenatal care, prevention and management of pregnancy complications, delivery planning, and the safety of pharmacological interventions in women with disabilities, there is an urgent need to adapt obstetric and gynecological services to meet the specific healthcare needs of this population. Women with disabilities have a higher prevalence of pre-existing risk factors and underlying health conditions. Consequently, they are at increased risk for virtually all pregnancy complications, obstetric interventions during labor, and adverse perinatal outcomes, including relatively uncommon conditions such as autonomic dysreflexia, spasticity, and unrecognized onset of labor, cardiovascular complications, and others. The risk of specific adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes varies according to the type of disability. Compared with women without disabilities, the overall risk of any pregnancy complication is increased by 27% among women with physical disabilities, by 49% among women with cognitive disabilities, and by 53% among women with sensory disabilities. The most common pregnancy complications observed in women with physical disabilities include preterm birth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, and fetal growth restriction / small-for-gestational-age infant. Conclusions. Understanding the specific characteristics of pregnancy in this patient population is critically important not only for obstetricians and gynecologists but also for physicians of related specialties. The planning of individualized interventions and the development of personalized care pathways for pregnant women with disabilities require a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach.
SN - 2309-4117
SN - 2411-1295
ER -