Access to cancer screening for women with mobility disabilities.

Women with mobility disabilities are less likely to access cancer screening, even when they have a primary care provider. The Gateways to Cancer Screening project was initiated to document the challenges for women with disabilities in their access and experiences of screening for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer. The study followed the tenets of participatory action research. Five peer-led focus groups were held with 24 women with mobility disabilities. Study participants identified multiple and interacting institutional barriers to cancer screening. Their discussions highlighted the complex work of (1) arranging and attending health-related appointments, (2) confronting normative assumptions about women's bodies and (3) securing reliable health care and information. These overlapping, mutually reinforcing issues interact to shape how women with disabilities access and experience cancer screening. We explore implications for redesign of cancer screening services and education of health providers, providing specific recommendations suggested by our participants and the findings.

Factors associated with physical and sexual violence among Canadian women living with physical disabilities.

We examined victimization data from a Canadian survey of 1,095 women with disabilities to determine the following: a) Who experienced abuse, b) the forms of abuse, and c) the factors associated with abuse. A convenience sample of Canadian women (18 years +) completed a mailed survey. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample and types of abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual). Sequential logistic regression was used to determine factors related to physical and/or sexual violence. Those who reported cultural identities other than Canadian (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.12-3.32) were more likely to have reported experiencing physical and/or sexual violence, as were those with an annual household income less than $20,000 (OR = 3.21, 95% CI = 1.97-5.25) or between $20,000 and $49,999 (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.29-3.36). Women with two or more health conditions (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.93-5.32) and those who had some or most activities limited by pain were also more likely to report having experienced physical and/or sexual violence (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.08-2.41). In contrast, women who had not received information about sexuality (OR = .68, 95% CI = .42-.96 and older women (OR = .46, 95% CI = .28-.73) were less likely to report having experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Our findings are important to public health professionals and practitioners in the detection and prevention of violence among women living with physical disabilities (WLD).

Reducing the risk of sexual abuse for people who use augmentative and alternative communication.

To date little attention has been focused on the sexual abuse experiences of people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and on addressing ways to reduce their risk for this type of abuse. This paper describes the results of a 3-year project that aimed to: (a) learn about the sexual abuse experiences of people who use AAC; (b) provide educational forums and resources on topics relating to sexual abuse for adults who use AAC; (c) define implications in risk reduction for various community service workers who support people who use AAC (e.g., attendant service providers, abuse counselors, sexual health educators, police, victim assistance services, legal professionals, and health care professionals); and (d) make recommendations to parents, educators, service providers, and consumer advocacy organizations about their roles in reducing the risk of abuse for youth and adults who use AAC. The findings suggest that the majority of participants in this project have experienced a range of abuses including sexual abuse, lack information about healthy and abusive relationships, have no way of communicating about sexuality and abuse, and lack supports in their personal lives and from within the community-at-large that are necessary to cope with relationship difficulties and specifically problems associated with abuse and justice system services. These findings and implications are shared with the intent of highlighting the need for more research and attention to the issue of abuse prevention for people who use AAC.

Factors associated with intimate partner violence by a former partner by immigration status and length of residence in Canada.

PURPOSE: We examined intimate partner violence (IPV) by a former partner among Canadian-born and immigrant women by length of residence in Canada. METHODS: Data from a 2009 national, population-based, telephone survey were used to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with any type of IPV (emotional, financial, physical, and/or sexual) by a former partner with whom there had been contact in the previous 5 years among immigrant women 0 to 19 years in Canada, 20 or more years or longer in Canada, and Canadian-born women (n = 1681). RESULTS: Of immigrant women in Canada for 0 to 19 years, 41.6% had experienced IPV by a former partner; for immigrant women in Canada for 20 or more years or longer, 60.6%, and Canadian-born women, 61.5% (P = .0423). In a logistic regression model adjusted for age and other sociodemographic characteristics, immigrant women in Canada for 0 to 19 years were less likely than Canadian-born women to experience any IPV (odds ratio, 0.266; 95% confidence interval, 0.130-0.544). There was no difference in the occurrence of any IPV between immigrant women in Canada 20 or more years or longer and Canadian-born women. CONCLUSIONS: High rates of any IPV by a former partner were found for both Canadian-born and immigrant women. Within immigrant communities, specific prevention campaigns should address the high risk of experiencing IPV at later stages of resettlement.

Women living with disabilities and their experiences and issues related to the context and complexities of leaving abusive situations.

The health of women with disabilities, like other women, is affected by experiences of violence and abuse. However, the experiences of women living with disabilities is less well known and an important issue for rehabilitation professionals. In this paper we focus on presenting women's knowledge and experiences of violence and abuse regarding where abuse takes place, the forms of abuse; and the complexities associated with 'taking action'. Women participants for this study had to be: 18 years of age or older; a Canadian citizen; able to participate in English; self-defined with a disability; and, be living in an urban area of Canada. Data presented is based on an innovative community-academic research study in which focus groups discussions using electronic technology (i.e. blackboard and chat rooms) were conducted with women living with disabilities across the country on important health issues. Participants' recommendations are also presented. Discussion of the findings focus on policy and practice implications related to dedicated resources, access to information and training initiatives for rehabilitation professionals and women themselves.

Barriers to wellness activities for Canadian women with physical disabilities.

Although there is a great deal of interest in women's health, research on the health and well being of women with disabilities has not increased. In this article we present internal and structural barriers to wellness activities experienced by women with disabilities. We also discuss women's actual and recommended strategies to address these barriers. Data were collected in six focus groups in urban and rural Ontario, Canada. The participants represented a diversity of disability, age, and ethnoracial backgrounds. Our findings suggest that individual and structural barriers exist for the women, with structural barriers (physical, informational, and systemic access) being predominant. Barriers prevented women from engaging in desired wellness activities. Women discussed actual strategies to address these barriers, such as collective efforts to buy nutritious foods and recommendations to create greater access (e.g., increase health professionals' training in disability issues).