Attitudes, Assumptions, and Beliefs of Obstetric Care Clinicians Regarding Perinatal Care of Women With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Obstetric clinicians still feel unprepared and sometimes biased when serving pregnant women with IDD.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers talked to 25 obstetric clinicians across three hospitals.
They asked open questions about caring for pregnant women with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
The team coded the answers for themes about attitudes, fears, and helpful practices.
What they found
Some clinicians were warm and eager to help.
Others felt scared, unsure, or even believed these women should not get pregnant.
No one had received formal training on supporting this group during pregnancy and birth.
How this fits with other research
Wilkinson et al. (2012) already showed family doctors felt unprepared for adults with ID.
The new study shows the same gap still exists in 2025, now inside obstetrics wards.
Brown et al. (2019) found families and staff also hold mixed views about sexuality in adults with ID.
Together, these papers paint one clear picture: across settings, helpers need targeted training, not just good intentions.
Why it matters
If labor nurses and OBs feel lost or biased, women with IDD get worse care.
You can ask your local hospital if they offer disability-focused perinatal training.
If not, share this paper and offer to co-design a short lunch-and-learn.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study examines clinician attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions regarding perinatal care of women with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) from the perspectives of both clinicians and women with IDD. We conducted semistructured individual interviews with women (n = 16) and individual interviews and one focus group with clinicians (n = 17). Data were analyzed using a content analysis approach. Analysis revealed both supportive and restrictive categories. Supportive: (a) accommodating needs, (b) respecting autonomy, and (c) supporting motherhood. Restrictive: (a) unwillingness to accommodate, (b) assumptions about decision-making capacity, (c) questioning parenting abilities, and (d) biased contraception and sterilization practices. Clinician training to address attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions is needed to improve perinatal care for women with IDD.
American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2025 · doi:10.1352/1944-7558-130.4.294