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Abstract

Women with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in Zimbabwe are often sidelined from participating in activities that emancipate and educate youth because of their differences from the mainstream population. Although policies and awareness campaigns have been introduced to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities, previous research has not examined the lack of accessibility of sexual reproductive health (SRH) services for women with intellectual disabilities. The cause of this problem is that women with NDDs have been subjected to immense derogatory treatment, stereotyping, and labelling; they have often been regarded as “retarded,” “crazy,” and “inadequate” beings. Women with intellectual disabilities are often deprived of their rights to sexuality, love, intimacy, reproduction, and marriage because of family and community members’ fear of producing children with similar disorders. To explore the challenges associated with the accessibility of sexual reproductive health services by women with NDDs, the researcher used a qualitative method with a descriptive multiple case-study design to examine the well-being of the women interviewed. Six in-depth interviews with women with NDDs were conducted in addition to three key informant interviews with a social worker, a superintendent, and a health officer at one selected disability institution. The data were transcribed, translated, and thematically analyzed. The experiences of women with NDDs in accessing sexual reproductive health services are a reflection of discrimination, economic inequality, and a violation of human rights. So that healthcare policies can become more inclusive of women with NDDs, the researcher recommends policy reforms, such as awareness campaigns to educate communities about NDDs and the funding of SRH for women with NDDs.

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