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Prescribing contraception to women with intellectual disabilities: GPs attitudes and practices

McCarthy, Michelle (2011) Prescribing contraception to women with intellectual disabilities: GPs attitudes and practices. Sexuality and Disability, 29 (4). pp. 339-349. ISSN 0146-1044. (doi:10.1007/s11195-011-9216-6) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:29436)

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Abstract

The challenges of providing appropriate reproductive healthcare to women with intellectual disabilities are set within the context of a primary health care system. The rationale for this study was to explore the prescribing practices and attitudes of General Practitioner’s (GP) when women with intellectual disabilities come to them for contraception. The data reported in this paper come from a cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey conducted with 162 GPs across two counties in England. The majority of respondents had 10 or fewer women with intellectual disabilities of child bearing age on their caseloads. The most commonly prescribed methods of contraception were the Pill (39.7%) and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), (34.2%). The difficulties faced by GPs in determining ‘best interests’ are explored, as are the issues related to the women’s capacity to consent to sex.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/s11195-011-9216-6
Uncontrolled keywords: Intellectual disabilities, contraception, women, England
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare > HV3008 People with mental disabilities
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Tizard
Depositing User: Michelle McCarthy
Date Deposited: 04 May 2012 14:28 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:07 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/29436 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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