Conditions Causing Disability and Current Pregnancy Among US Women With Chronic Physical Disabilities

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Growing numbers of reproductive-age US women with chronic physical disabilities (CPD) are becoming pregnant. Little is known about the health conditions causing their CPD. OBJECTIVES: To identify health conditions causing CPD among reproductive-age women and specifically among currently pregnant women. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional, nationally representative National Health Interview Survey data from 2006 to 2011. SUBJECTS: A total of 6043 civilian, noninstitutionalized women aged 18-49 with CPD. MEASURES: National Health Interview Survey asks about various movement difficulties and their underlying causes and about current pregnancy. We used responses from 8 movement difficulty and other questions to identify women with mobility difficulties caused by chronic physical health conditions. RESULTS: Among women with CPD, 2.0% report current pregnancy, with pregnancy rates falling monotonically as CPD severity rises. Regardless of pregnancy, 20.8% report 2 causes for their CPD, and 12.7% report 3+ causes; the most common causes are arthritis, back or neck problems, and other musculoskeletal conditions. Compared with nonpregnant women, currently pregnant women report fewer causal conditions: 15.8% report 2 causes and 8.0% 3+ causes; back or neck problems are reported most frequently, followed by musculoskeletal problems and arthritis. Multivariable logistic regression analyses predicting current pregnancy controlling for age category and individual common causes of CPD found that no cause was significantly associated with higher or lower adjusted odds of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Almost one quarter of currently pregnant women with CPD report more than one cause for their disability. Further research will needed to examine how obstetrical needs vary for depending on the cause of a pregnant woman's disability.