The unmet need for sexual health services among women with physical disabilities: a scoping review

Background Due to numerous social, economic, and cultural barriers, the sexual health needs of women with physical disabilities are not prioritized. The aim of this scoping review is to identify the unmet sexual health needs of women with physical disabilities. Methods Scopus, Cochrane Library, Pub Med, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were searched from 2006 to March 2023. English peer-reviewed and grey literature sources were included. The primary search yielded 73 articles. Finally, 20 articles were analyzed using narrative synthesis for qualitative appraisal and data analysis. Results From the 20 selected articles, four unmet sexual health needs were identified: (1) unmet need for family planning and prevention of unplanned pregnancy, (2) unmet need related to genital tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV/AIDS, (3) unmet need related to sexual dysfunction, and (4) unmet need related to exposure to sexual violence. Conclusion In many comprehensive health centers, which are supposed to provide reproductive and sexual health services, the needs of patients with physical disabilities are not specifically considered. Instead, their needs are treated like any other woman's. Because there is no integrity in the provision of health services to women with physical disabilities, there is a gap in the identification of needs and provision of sexual health services to these women. Evidence shows that physical disability can affect a woman's whole sexual life and that patients need specific sexual health services.