Health care for women with disabilities: Population-based evidence of disparities

Despite having similar or better potential access to health care, women with disabilities experience worse health care and worse preventive care than nondisabled women. This study examined the health care of a national probability sample of 8,721 disabled and 45,522 nondisabled women living in the United States. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age and household income, were estimated for eight measures of health care, including three measures of potential access to care, two measures of receipt of preventive services, and postponement of care. Findings signal potentially serious consequences for women with disabilities, who require care at higher rates than their nondisabled counterparts and are at increased risk of developing secondary conditions if their care needs are not met.