Contraceptive decision-making for people with intellectual disability

Sexual and reproductive rights for people with intellectual disability: Exploring stigma and discrimination in contraceptive decision-making

Currently recruiting participants!

We are looking for:

People with intellectual disability who have experience with contraceptive health care
Health care professionals who have experience providing contraceptive health care (e.g., general practitioners, pharmacists, midwives, obstetricians, gynaecologists)

Contraceptives are things you can use or do to stop from getting pregnant after sex.

Inclusion criteria for people with intellectual disability taking part in this study include:

14 years or older (if you are under 18 you will need guardian permission)
Live in Australia
Have an intellectual disability
Have experience with contraceptive health care

You can download the participant information sheet and consent form here.

You can download the information sheet and consent form for your parent or guardian here.

You can download the information sheet and consent form for your support person here.

Inclusion criteria for health care professionals taking part in this study include:

18 years or older
Work or have worked in Australia
Have experience providing contraceptive healthcare to people with intellectual disability

You can download the information sheet and consent form for healthcare professionals here.

This study has been approved by the UNSW Human Research Advisory Panel D: Biomedical [Project Id: iRECS9229].

About this project

People with intellectual disability have less access to contraceptive healthcare information and are less likely to receive the support needed to make an informed choice about contraception. People with intellectual disability also experience stigma and discrimination about their sexual and reproductive health and lives.

It is important that people with intellectual disability have access to information, support, and inclusive and respectful contraceptive healthcare. Without this, people with intellectual disability are at risk of reproductive coercion and abuse.

This project aims to speak with people with intellectual disability about their experiences getting contraceptive healthcare. It also speaks to healthcare professionals about their experiences providing contraceptive healthcare to people with intellectual disability.

Project team

This project is led by Maryann Barrington. Team members are Julian Trollor, Patsie Frawley, Karen Fisher, Janelle Weise, Tahli Hind, Clare Boerma, and Bronwen Merner. This research is being funded by an Australian Human Rights Institute and Disability Innovation Institute seed grant.