Abstract

Stigma impacts women with disabilities during their pregnancy experiences, specifically through its components; societal beliefs, stereotypes, and attitudes. Through an interpretivist approach, this study addressed how stigma’s components impact the pregnancy experiences of women with disabilities in Kathmandu, especially considering recent policy changes on Nepali disability healthcare. Twelve semi-structured interviews [SSIs] with women with physical or visual disabilities were conducted, with a supplementary focus group discussion [FGD] between mothers without disabilities. Through a Thematic Analysis, themes from the SSIs and FGD were identified. Societal beliefs on disability’s genetic inheritance, stereotypes that the women lack independence and the ability to give birth, and healthcare providers’ negative attitudes impacted the women with disabilities’ pregnancy experiences by socially alienating them. However, positive family attitudes and the women’s own self-empowered beliefs may indicate improvements from policy changes and a subsequent reduction of stigma.

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