By Rupankar Dey
Rupankar holds a Masters in Development Studies from Erasmus University Rotterdam. He has worked as a sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) researcher for Liliane Fonds, a Dutch NGO dedicated to the rights of people with disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Posted on International Women’s Day 2024
In Uganda, many women with disabilities face major challenges in their sexual and reproductive health. Is are often ignored or overlooked because they are women, have disabilities and society It does not suit They always think they should have a say in their sexual health. Although there are rules to protect them (UNFPA Uganda, 2021), the reality is different. They struggle to get the care they need because the system is not set up to help them properly.
Lack of sexual activity for women with disabilities
Women with disabilities are often left out when it comes to getting proper sexual health care. Uganda’s Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) policies (MoH, Uganda, 2017) claim to be inclusive, yet fail to address the specific needs of women with disabilities as they perpetuate the idea that women with disabilities are often viewed as they are not capable of making choices about their bodies, which is not fair. The rules don’t really understand the different challenges women with disabilities face, such as getting around or communicating with doctors, leading to their exclusion from basic reproductive health education and services.
Existing studies (see Dotson, Stinson, & Christian, 2014) often overlook the different abilities and challenges of these women at the individual level, focusing instead on external structural barriers. It is time to ask whether policies really respond to the diverse needs of individuals shaped by their unique experiences.
The surveillance dilemma: Gaps in national policies
National policies (MoH, Uganda, 2017), although well-intentioned, prioritize the needs of the majority considered under normative capacity standards, leaving women with disabilities on the sidelines. This neglect leads to stark disparities in SRH and family planning services, further complicating the already daunting challenges these women face.
Our research reveals three critical factors that exacerbate the struggles of women with disabilities: environmental barriers, family dynamics, and individual identity characteristics.
Environmental barriers that shape individual needs
Deeply entrenched religious beliefs and social stigma surrounding disability in Ugandan society create significant barriers for women with disabilities, pushing them to the margins of SRH care. Limited awareness of sexual health, combined with physical accessibility challenges and inadequate training of health professionals, exacerbates their situation. These women find themselves navigating a healthcare landscape fraught with barriers, preventing them from accessing vital SRH services and support. Despite efforts to improve accessibility to SRH facilities, women with disabilities in Uganda continue to face significant barriers. Even when they do manage to access care, they are often met with judgment and discrimination due to prevailing social stigma and religious beliefs. These deep-rooted attitudes create an environment where the needs of these women are not fully assessed or addressed, leading to gaps in care and perpetuating disparities in health outcomes.
The impact of social stigma
The social stigma surrounding disability casts a shadow over the lives of women in Uganda, affecting every aspect of their existence, including their access to SRH services. In many communities, disability is seen as a curse or punishment, leading to marginalization and exclusion. As a result, women with disabilities and their families face enormous pressure to conform to societal norms, often at the expense of their reproductive choices that either force them to opt for forced abortions or limit access to SRHR services or products for fear of be ashamed. or ostracized in society.
Family Dynamics: A Double-edged Sword
While supportive families can provide critical assistance, financial constraints and social norms often limit the autonomy of women with disabilities in matters of reproductive health. The tension between family support and societal expectations forces these women to cope with conflicting pressures and limited ability to make reproductive choices. Despite their desires, they are often silenced, their autonomy sacrificed at the altar of social norms and capacity for convention.
Characteristics of Individual Identity
The diverse range of disabilities presents a multitude of challenges, each of which presents its own barriers to accessing SRH services. Education and economic independence can empower these women, but communication barriers, family paternalism and religious beliefs still hinder their progress.
Triumph Over Challenges: The Power of Education and Independence
Despite these obstacles, stories of resilience and triumph are emerging. Education and financial independence serve as transformative tools, empowering women to assert their HA rights with confidence. Through vocational training and personalized interventions, women with disabilities can overcome systemic barriers, regain agency and pave the way for an inclusive future.
Interview excerpts:
Mastoula: “I have never faced discrimination and they don’t bother me because I am financially independent…”
Mastoula’s Mother: “My daughter is a resilient woman who refuses to submit to any man.”
These excerpts are from an interview with a Ugandan woman with a mobility disability. They highlight the transformative influence of financial autonomy and family support in empowering women with disabilities to navigate the complex landscape of SRH care with resilience and determination.
Religious beliefs and cultural norms
Religious beliefs and cultural norms further exacerbate the challenges women with disabilities face in accessing SRH services, even if the marginalized group is financially independent. In Uganda, where religion plays an important role in everyday life, religious beliefs often dictate attitudes towards sexuality and reproductive health. Conservative interpretations of religious texts may condemn certain behaviors or practices, leading to restrictions on access to contraception, abortion and other basic services. Cultural norms surrounding gender roles and family dynamics also influence perceptions of disability and shape access to care for women with disabilities.
The Consequences of Limited Access
The consequences of limited access to SRH services are far-reaching and profound. Women with disabilities may experience increased vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies and obstetric complications due to limited access to contraception, family planning and maternal health services. Furthermore, the lack of comprehensive care leaves their reproductive health needs unmet, exacerbating existing health disparities and perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.
A call to action
The voices of women with disabilities in the Ugandan SRH landscape demand to be heard and tailored interventions are essential to address their unique needs and experiences based on their identity, ensuring participation in SRH initiatives. It is time to address systemic barriers and strengthen their stories of resilience. Through targeted interventions and collective efforts, we can break down barriers, empower these women, and pave the way to reproductive justice for all. Let’s rise to the challenge and build a world where every woman, regardless of ability, can access her reproductive rights with dignity and autonomy.
Note: To ensure anonymity, the respondent’s name has been changed. For more details, readers can contact the author for access to his research paper and policy brief, as this blog serves as a summary form of the research.
E-MAIL: [email protected]
Bibliographical references:
- Dotson, LA, Stinson, J. and Christian, L., 2014. ‘People tell me I can’t have sex’: Women with disabilities share their personal views on health care, sexuality and reproductive rights. In Women with Visible and Invisible Disabilities (pp. 195-209). Routledge.
- Division of Reproductive Health Department of Community Health, Ministry of Health (2017) NATIONAL POLICY GUIDELINES AND SERVICE STANDARDS FOR SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS, WHERE. Available at: (Accessed: 21 February 2024).
- UNFPA Uganda (2021). UGANDA DISABILITY INTEGRATION IN UGANDA: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. [online] Available in: pdf/disability_inclusion_-_factsheet._final.pdf.
