Health disparities between women with and without disabilities: a review of the research

Soc Work Public Health. 2010 May;25(3):368-86. doi: 10.1080/19371910903240969.

Abstract

As part of a women's health center project, we reviewed 16 years of research to examine health disparities between women with and without disabilities. We reviewed MEDLINE-indexed articles between 1990 and 2005 with data on women with and without physical, sensory, intellectual, developmental, or psychiatric disabilities. Our review found few articles examining health disparities in chronic disease, cancer, mental health and substance abuse, preventive screening, health-promoting behaviors, and health services utilization. Results reflect apparent health disparities between women with and without disabilities. Challenges for the field exist in standardizing disability definitions and determining a future course for health disparity research and policy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Disabled Persons* / psychology
  • Disabled Persons* / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Health Status Indicators
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Research
  • Women's Health