Midwives' Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Perinatal Care for Women With Disabilities

Women with disabilities (WWD) face significant barriers to accessing quality perinatal care, resulting in adverse outcomes for mothers and newborns. Midwives are crucial in providing this care, but their knowledge and attitudes can impact the quality of services delivered. This study aims to examine midwives' knowledge and attitudes toward perinatal care for WWD and identify factors influencing these aspects.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2023, involving 149 midwives from various healthcare settings. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire addressing demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers related to perinatal care for WWD. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used for analysis, with a significance level set at 0.05.

The sample comprised predominantly female midwives (146, 98%), with a mean age of 33.7 years and a mean of 9.8 years of work experience. Only 48 (32.2%) reported workplaces equipped for perinatal care for WWD. Most participants rated the perinatal care services in Greece for WWD as moderate (87, 58.4%) and believed that the medical staff's knowledge in this area was insufficient (148, 99.3%). The mean knowledge score was 35 points out of 100, indicating a low level of knowledge. Key barriers included the lack of adapted services (148, 99.3%) and insufficient infrastructure (143, 96%). Despite these challenges, 142 (95.3%) midwives supported the right of WWD to have children. Significant correlations were found between higher knowledge scores and less specialized attitudes, while more perceived barriers correlated with a greater need for further education.

This study highlights the urgent need for improved education and training programs for midwives to enhance their knowledge and attitudes toward perinatal care for WWD. Addressing educational and structural barriers is essential to provide equitable and high-quality care. Policymakers should prioritize creating inclusive healthcare environments and support ongoing professional development for midwives.