Gestation and motherhood narratives of women with physical disabilities

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12957/reuerj.2025.90592

Keywords:

Nursing, Women's Health, Parenting, Health Vulnerability, Persons with Disabilities

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the life trajectories of women with physical disabilities who experienced gestation and motherhood. Method: qualitative study with a historical-social approach, conducted by means of the life oral history technique. Fifteen women with physical disabilities were interviewed. Thematic content analysis was carried out with Atlas.ti® software, in light of the conceptual framework of vulnerability. Results: each woman’s disability allows understanding of the obstacles faced regarding accessibility, image and identity, and vulnerability throughout the gestational and puerperal period. This emphasizes the significance of health care, valuing the right to experience gestation and motherhood with safety and inclusion. Conclusion: vulnerability was portrayed at different moments in the lives of women with physical disabilities, being similar among them yet distinctly unique for each one. These women’s life trajectories reflect their way of confronting the barriers imposed by society and physical condition.

Author Biographies

Amanda Nicácio Vieira, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Obstetric nurse. Doctorate in Nursing from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.

Maria Itayra Padilha, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Nurse. Doctorate and Professor in the Graduate Nursing Program at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Roberta Costa, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Obstetric nurse Doctorate and Professor in the Graduate Nursing Program at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.

Laís Antunes Wilhelm, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Obstetric nurse Doctorate and Professor in the Graduate Nursing Program at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.

Manuela Beatriz Velho, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Obstetric nurse Doctorate and Professor in the Graduate Nursing Program at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.

Isadora Ferrante Boscoli de Oliveira Alves, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Naturologist. Specialist in analytical psychology. Doctorate in Nursing from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.

References

1. Mello AG, Aydos V, Schuch P. Alejar as antropologias a partir das mediações da deficiência. Horiz. Antropol. 2022 [cited 2020 Sep 20]; 28(64):7-29. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-71832022000300001.

2. Clímaco JC. Constructions of motherhood in feminist and disability studies. Rev Estud Fem. 2020 [cited 2020 Sep 13]; 28(1):e54235. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9584-2020v28n154235.

3. World Health Organization (WHO). Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities. Genebra: WHO; 2022 [cited 2024 July 20]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240063600.

4. Organização Pan-americana de Saúde (OPAS). Considerações sobre pessoas com deficiência durante o surto de COVID-19. Brasília (DF): OPAS; 2020 [cited 2025 Jan 31] Available from: https://iris.paho.org/bitstream/handle/10665.2/52063/OPASBRACOVID1920017_por.pdf?sequence=7&isAllowed=y.

5. Vieira AN, Padilha MI, Costa RA. (Im)Possibilidade de ser Mulher e Mãe com Deficiência: uma Revisão Integrativa. Rev. baiana enferm. 2023 [cited 2020 Aug 12]; 37:53366. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18471/rbe.v37.53366.

6. Nguye TV, King J, Edwards N, Dunne MP. “Under great anxiety”: Pregnancy experiences of Vietnamese women with physical disabilities seen through an intersectional lens. Soc Scien Medicine. 2021 [cited 2020 Feb 15]; 284:114231. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114231.

7. Addlakha R, Price J, Heidari S. Disability and sexuality: claiming sexual and reproductive rights. Reprod Health Matters. 2017 [cited 2020 Sep 18]; 25(50):4-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09688080.2017.1336375.

8. Araújo GO, Araújo LA. Esterilização compulsória de mulheres com deficiência: uma perspectiva feminista interseccional. TeC. 2021 [cited 2020 Aug 05]; 16(1):32-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34019/2318-101X.2021.v16.30405.

9. Acheampong AK, Aziato L, Marfo M, Amovor P. Breastfeeding and caring for children: a qualitative exploration of the experiences of mothers with physical impairments in Ghana. Pregnacy Childbirth. 2020 [cited 2020 Dec 06]; 20(1):331. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03028-1.

10. Passos RL, Talles FSP, Oliveira MHB. Sexual violence and other offenses against woman with disabilities. Saúde debate. 2019 [cited 2020 Aug 11]; 43(spe4):154-64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-11042019S413.

11. Pereira RSS, Cruz VV, Lourenço MCG, Machado WCA, Schoeller SD, Martins MM. People acquired physical disabilities: from activities of living to rehabilitation nursing care. Texto Contexto – enferm. 2024 [cited 2020 Aug 05]; 33:e20230362. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-265X-TCE-2023-0362en.

12. Vieira AN, Padilha MI, Costa R. “Vou ser mãe, e agora?”: mulheres com deficiência física e suas vulnerabilidades durante a gestação. Ciência, Ciênc. cuid. saúde. 2023 [cited 2020 Aug 13]; 220:66112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4025/ciencuidsaude.v22i0.66112.

13. Brasil. Ministério da Infraestrutura. Passe Livre. Legislação. Brasília (DF): Ministério da Infraestrutura; 2017 [cited 2022 Feb 1]. Available from: http://portal.infraestrutura.gov.br/passelivre/legislacao-passe-livre.

14. Brasil. Lei nº 10048, de 08 de novembro de 2000. Dá prioridade de atendimento às pessoas que especifica, e dá outras providências. Brasília (DF): Casa Civil; 2000 [cited 2019 Sep 2] Available from: http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/LEIS/L10048.htm.

15. Brasil. Lei nº 10098, de 19 de dezembro de 2000. Estabelece normas gerais e critérios básicos para a promoção da acessibilidade das pessoas portadoras de deficiência ou com mobilidade reduzida, e dá outras providências. Brasília (DF): Casa Civil; 2000 [cited 2024 Sep 2]. Available from: http://portal.mec.gov.br/arquivos/pdf/lei10098.pdf.

16. Carvalho CFS, Leal LP, Amorim RPBPLV, Pontes CM. Experiences of women with physical disabilities in labor and delivery assistance. Rev Bras Enferm. 2024 [cited 2020 Sep 20]; 77:e20230290. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2023-0290.

17. Temane AM, Magagula FN, Nolte AGW. Midwives’ lived experiences of caring for women with mobility disabilities during pregnancy, labor and puerperium in Eswatini: a qualitative study. BMC Women's Health. 2024 [cited 2022 Feb 20]; 24:207. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03032-z.

18. Padilha MI, Bellaguarda MLR, Nelson S, Maia AR.C., Costa R. O uso das fontes na condução da pesquisa histórica. Texto Contexto Enferm. 2017 [cited 2021 Jan 12]; 26(4):e2760017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-07072017002760017.

19. Creswell JW, Creswell JD, Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approach, 5th ed. California: Sage; 2018.

20. Sandelowski M. A matter of taste: evaluating the quality of qualitative research. Nurs Inq. 2015 [cited 2022 Oct 20]; 22(2):86-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12080.

21. Vinuto J. A amostragem em bola de neve na pesquisa qualitativa: um debate em aberto. Tematicas, Campinas-SP. 2014 [cited 2020 Sep 03]; 22(44):203–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20396/tematicas.v22i44.10977.

22. Botelho LC. Panorama de indicadores sobre as mulheres com deficiência no mercado de trabalho. Syn)thesis. 2022 [cited 2020 Aug 06]; 15(1):45-57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12957/synthesis.2022.69286.

23. Nichiata KYI, Bertolozzi MR, Takahashi RF, Fracolli LA. The use of the “vulnerability” Concept in the nursing area. Rev Latino-am Enferm. 2008 [Cited 2025 Sep 20]; 16(5):923-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692008000500020.

24. Mello AG. Deficiência, incapacidade e vulnerabilidade: do capacitismo ou a preeminência capacitista e biomédica do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da UFSC. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2016 [cited 2025 Sep 20]; 21(10):3265-76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320152110.07792016.

25. Nicolau SM, Schraiber LB, Ayres JR. Mulheres com deficiência e sua dupla vulnerabilidade: contribuições para a construção da integralidade em saúde. Ciênc saúde coletiva. 2013 [cited 2025 Sep 20]; 18(3):863-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81232013000300032.

26. Gartrell A, Baesel K, Becker C. “We do not dare to love”: women with disabilities' sexual and reproductive health and rights in rural Cambodia. Reprod Health Matters. 2017 [cited 2020 May 17]; 25(50):31-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09688080.2017.1332447.

27. Berri B, Bousfild ABS, Silva JP, Giacomozzi AI. Social representations of the body for people with physical disabilities. Cienc Psicol. 2020 [cited 2020 May 17]; 14(2):e2322. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22235/cp.v14i2.2322.

28. Di Santo SG, Colombo M, Silvaggi M, Gammino GR, Fava V, Malandrino C, et al. The sexual and parenting rights of people with physical and psychical disabilities: attitudes of italians and socio-demographic factors involved in recognition and denial. Int J Emviron Res Public Healh. 2022 [cited 2020 May 18]; 19(3):1017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19021017.

29. Ganle JK, Baatiema L, Quansah R, Danso-Appiah A. Barriers facing persons with disability in accessing sexual and reproductive health services in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. PLoS One. 2020 [cited 2020 Sep 20]; 15(10):e0238585. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238585.

30. Deckota HR, Kett M, Groce N. Societal attitude and behaviours towards women with disabilities in rural Nepal: pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019 [cited 2020 Oct 19]; 19(1):20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2171-4.

31. Scott JB, Prola CA, Siqueira AC, Pereira CR. The concept of social vulnerability in the realm of psychology in Brazil: a systematic review of the literature. Psicol Rev (Belo Horizonte). 2018 [Cited 2025 Sep 20]; 24(2):600-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5752/P.1678-9563.2018v24n2p600-615.

32. Sharma S, Sivakami M. Sexual and reproductive health concerns of persons with disability in India: an issue of deep-rooted silence. J Biosoc Sci. 2019 [cited 2020 Sep 20]; 51(2)225-43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/s0021932018000081.

33. Blair A, Cao J, Wilson A, Homer C. Access to, and experiences of, maternity care for women with physical disabilities: a scoping review. Midwife. 2022 [cited 2020 Oct 18]; 107:103273. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2022.103273.

34. Cox A, Parsons T, Watkin S, Gallagher A. Supporting the delivery of good maternity care for parents with learning disabilities. Midwifery. 2021 [cited 2020 Aug 05]; 102:103073. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.103073;

35. Mac-Seig M, Zinszer K, Eryong B, Ajok E, Ferlatte O, Zarowsky C. The intersectional jeopardy of disability, gender and sexual and reproductive health: experiences and recommendations of women and men with disabilities in Northern Uganda. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2020 [cited 2021 Nov 06]; 28(2):1772654. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2020.1772654.

36. Casebolt MT. Barriers to reproductive health services for women with disability in low- and middle-income countries: a review of the literature. Sex Reprod Helthcare. 2020 [cited 2021 May 06]; 24:100485. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2020.100485.

37. O'Connor-Terry C, Harris J. Pregnancy decision-making in women with physical disabilities. Disabil Health J. 2022 [cited 2023 Oct 15]; 15(1):101176. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101176.

38. Nguyen TV, King J, Edwards N, Dunne MP. “Nothing suitable for us”: experiences of women with physical disabilities in accessing maternal healthcare services in northern vietnam. Disabil. Rehabil. 2022 [cited 2023 Oct 05]; 44(4):573-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2020.1773548.

39. Heideveld-Gerritsen M, Vulpen M, Hollander M, Maatman SO, Ockuijsen H, Hoogen A. Maternity care experiences of women with physical disabilities: a systematic review. Midwifery. 2021 [cited 2022 May 20]; 96:e102938. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.102938.

40. Kazembe A, Simwaka A, Dougherty K, Petross C, Kafulafula U, Chakhame B, et al. Experiences of women with physical disabilities accessing prenatal care in low- and middle-income countries. Public Health Nurs. 2022 [cited 2023 Jun 22]; 39(5):1156-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13087.

41. Smeltzer SC, Mitra M, Long-Bellil L, Smith LD. Obstetric clinicians' experiences and educational preparation for caring for pregnant women with physical disabilities: a qualitative study. Disabil Health J. 2018 [cited 2020 Sep 26]; 11(1):8-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2017.07.004.

42. Carvalho ANL, Silva JP. Sexuality of people with disabilities: a systematic review. Arq bras psicol. 2018 [cited 2022 Jan 28]; 70(3):289-304. Available from: http://pepsic.bvsalud.org/pdf/arbp/v70n3/20.pdf.

Published

2025-10-27

How to Cite

1.
Vieira AN, Padilha MI, Costa R, Wilhelm LA, Velho MB, Alves IFB de O. Gestation and motherhood narratives of women with physical disabilities. Rev. enferm. UERJ [Internet]. 2025 Oct. 27 [cited 2026 Mar. 17];33(1):e90592. Available from: https://www.e-publicacoes.uerj.br/enfermagemuerj/article/view/90592

Issue

Section

Research Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>