Abstract
Background
Women with disabilities face multiple barriers in accessing maternal healthcare services in low-resource settings. As such, they are at an increased risk of adverse maternal health outcomes. in this review, we synthesised evidence regarding the extent of access to maternal healthcare services for women with disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods
Of the 70 articles subjected to fulltext screening, 27 were used for data extraction. First‑order codes and participant quotations from these papers were inductively analysed and then interpreted through analytical themes mapped onto the Accessibility, Availability, Acceptability, and Quality framework with focus on on antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care experiences.
Results
The findings revealed a non‑responsive maternal healthcare systems. accessibility barriers included disability‑incompatible infrastructure, unsuitable transport, financial hardship, and inaccessible health information. availability was constrained by the absence of sign‑language interpreters, disability‑inclusive services, and adequately trained providers. acceptability was undermined by stigma, discrimination, breaches of privacy, and disrespectful care, often leading to delayed care‑seeking or preference for home delivery. quality of care was compromised by communication failures, lack of informed consent, neglect, and widespread obstetric violence, with disability exacerbating women’s vulnerability to mistreatment. Isolated accounts of respectful and accommodating care demonstrated that inclusive maternal healthcare is achievable within existing systems.
Conclusions
The findings reveal that inequities in maternal healthcare for women with disabilities are structural, attitudinal and financilay linked. Addressing these gaps requires disability‑inclusive service design, workforce training, accessible communication, and rights‑based accountability to ensure safe, acceptable, and high‑quality maternal care for all women.
Key messages
• The findings reveal that inequities in maternal healthcare for women with disabilities are structural, financial and attitudinal in nature.
• Provision of Disabilitity inclusive training and disability inclusive design is very key in addressing this inequalities.