Barriers To Accessing Safe Abortion Services by Women with Disabilities: Insights from Visually Impaired Undergraduate Students at Addis Ababa University
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Date
2025-05-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Access to safe abortion is a crucial reproductive right, yet women with disabilities
face significant barriers. These barriers, compounded by societal stigma and systemic
inequalities, are particularly pronounced in developing contexts. Addressing these barriers is
essential to ensuring equitable access to reproductive healthcare and promoting the autonomy
and well-being of this vulnerable population.
Objective: To explore barriers to accessing safe abortion services by women with disabilities:
insights from visually impaired undergraduate students at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia – a
qualitative study, 2025.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted among purposively sampled female
students with disabilities at Addis Ababa University studying in various departments. Individual
in-depth interviews with visually impaired, as well as key informant interviews, were conducted
utilizing an interview guide. Data were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and codes generated
manually.
Results: Barriers that could prevent women with disability from taking the step to seek safe
abortion services. Multi-Layered Barriers to Access safe abortion service, Disability-Specific
Challenges and Exacerbation of Existing Barriers and Recommendations to Improve Support
Systems and Inclusive Practices have been identified to provide in-depth descriptions of the
barriers to accessing safe abortion services by women with disabilities: insights from visually
impaired.
Conclusion and Recommendation: This study revealed that women with disabilities attending
undergraduate programs at Addis Ababa University face numerous and intersecting barriers when
seeking safe abortion services. Participants in the study made a number of suggestions to
enhance inclusive behaviors and support networks in light of these difficulties. Education and
awareness initiatives that are especially suited to the requirements of women with disabilities
were the main recommendations
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Keywords
safe abortion, women, disabilities, undergraduate students, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.