Women with mobility disabilities’ experiences of maternity care during pregnancy, labour and puerperium in Eswatini

Abstract

Background: People living with disabilities are often women and the elderly and those from low-income families. There is paucity in research on women with mobility disabilities’ experiences of maternity care during pregnancy, labour and puerperium in Eswatini.

Aim: To explore and describe women with mobility disabilities’ experiences of maternity care during pregnancy, labour and puerperium in Eswatini.

Setting: The study was conducted in the Hhohho and Manzini regions in Eswatini, between March 2019 and July 2019.

Methods: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was followed. Purposive sampling and snowballing techniques were used to sample women with mobility disabilities to participate in the research. Individual interviews were conducted, and Giorgi’s method of data analysis was used.

Results: Women with mobility disabilities experienced midwives as being brutal, unsupportive and judgemental. In addition, participants reported several maternity care challenges related to a lack of protocol and infrastructure, and they needed to be cared for by experienced midwives during pregnancy, labour and puerperium.

Conclusion: Women with mobility disabilities experienced various challenges during pregnancy, labour and puerperium in Eswatini. There is a need to develop guidelines to facilitate support and holistic maternity care for these women.

Contribution: The study contributed to the scientific knowledge of women with mobility disabilities’ experiences of maternity care during pregnancy, labour and puerperium.