Work

Health Disparities Between Women With and Without Disabilities: A Review of the Research

Year: 2010

Type: article

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.

Source: Social Work in Public Health

DOI: 10.1080/19371910903240969

Authors: Jennifer P. Wisdom, Marjorie G. McGee, Willi Horner-Johnson, Yvonne L. Michael, Elizabeth Adams, Michelle Berlin