Felt need of deaf women during childbirth and immediate postpartum in the hospital

• Main Authors: Flavia Polanco Teijo, Salvador García-Ruise
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad de Alicante 2012-06-01
• Series: Cultura de los Cuidados
• Subjects: Mujer sorda; Atención sanitaria; Parto; Puerperio
• Online Access: https://culturacuidados.ua.es/article/view/2010-n28-necesidad-sentida-de-las-mujeres-sordas-durante-el-parto-y-el-puerperio-inmediato-en-el-ambito-hospitalario

Introduction: Estimates by the National Statistics Institute (INE), as data referring to 2008, in Spain there are 40,000 Deaf women on fertile age (16-44 years). The maternity in the women with disability has a cost extra in relation to the rest of women. Also tend to be unemployed or have works of minor qualification. Objective: To know and understand the perceived need for both Deaf women in childbirth and in the puerperium. Methods: Qualitative study from semi-structured interviews with Deaf women in the immediate postpartum period in the area of University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela. Results: Deaf patients use health services differently than the listeners; they usually have problems such as fear, distrust and frustration. They showed difficulties in communicating with health personnel during their hospital admission, both verbal and nonverbal language. The lack of information was also common in all of them, mostly during the procedures and techniques which were performed. Conclusions: Deaf women and health personnel have communication difficulties involving the establishment of links that are required in health care and that may adversely affect the diagnosis and treatment.