To what extent are midwives adapting antenatal information for pregnant women with intellectual disabilities? A survey of NHS trusts in England.

Objectives: To identify the existing antenatal information provision practices for pregnant women with intellectual disabilities in England. To identify how practices between and within local supervising authorities differed, and if midwives were adapting standard antenatal information for pregnant women with intellectual disabilities, including examples of accessible information being used.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Easy read and accessible information for people with intellectual disabilities: Is it worth it? A meta-narrative literature review.

Background: The proliferation of "accessible information" for people with intellectual disabilities in UK health care has accelerated in recent years, underpinned by policy guidance alongside the recent introduction of mandatory standards. However, questions have been raised as to the impact of such resources as a means of enhancing involvement in health care and addressing health inequalities.

Objective: To review and synthesize the evidence from different approaches used to evaluate the impact of accessible information for people with intellectual disabilities using a meta-narrative approach.

Current evidence on antenatal care provision for women with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review.

Background: changing attitudes, alongside integration, more independent living and recognition of rights to family life have meant a steady rise in women with intellectual disabilities becoming pregnant. However, existing evidence shows that women with intellectual disabilities are less likely to seek or attend for regular antenatal care. This population experiences poorer maternal wellbeing and worse pregnancy outcomes compared to the general population, including preterm and low-birthweight babies.

Aiming for equal access to maternity care for all.

The guidance 'Pregnancy and complex social factors' (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2010) outlines that women with complex social factors are likely to have particular needs and may be faced with barriers to accessing care. This article describes a project to design and develop clear antenatal appointment sheets for various consultations with health professionals in maternity services in an attempt to meet the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) recommendation that: "Directors of midwifery services should develop resources in partnership with experts and disability advocates in different formats appropriate to need" (RCM 2007: 1). It highlights the rationale, methodology, ethics and findings from the project.