Empowering women with disabilities to realize their sexual reproductive health and rights

Abstract

Despite the ratification of laws protecting the rights of PWDS, women with disabilities in Uganda still face marginalisation when it comes to receiving fundamental services including sexual and reproductive health services. WWDs need access to accurate information, be informed and empowered to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections, make decisions on when to have children and have access to skilled health care providers and services. A cross-sectional design was used for the study where a section of women with disabilities in Kampala and Wakiso was interviewed to understand the experiences of WWDs regarding sexual reproductive health and rights. The findings showed that WWDs had access to some forms SRH information, 80% of WWDs had information on testing for HIV/AIDS and treatment of STIs, antenatal and postnatal services and family planning. Information on other forms of SRH information like cancer screening, fertility treatment, abortion and post abortion services were not easily accessible to them. Findings also revealed that several factors influenced access to and utilisation of SRH services and these include support from sexual partners, distance to the health facility and availability of the services at their nearest health facilities and the attitude of the health workers. There is limited knowledge among WWDs regarding their SRHR, particularly on the role of the state and the available human rights mechanisms to protect the rights of PWDS. This calls for investigation into how information on human rights can be made easily accessible to PWDs in order for them to demand for these rights. There is need to sensitize and empower WWDs so that they are able to demand for sexual and reproductive health services and to advocate for accessible services if Uganda will achieve SDG 3 on universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services.