In 2022, we focused on access to gynaecological care for women with disabilities. There are still far too few facilities in Poland that are properly adapted to meet the needs of these patients. That is why we decided to reach out and to show clearly that women with disabilities can, and should, take care of their intimate health too.

According to 2022 data, only 158 gynaecology practices in Poland were registered as accessible to women with disabilities,* while the number of women with disabilities exceeded 1.5 million at the time. Importantly, none of these practices were fully equipped to support patients with different types of disability. As our study** showed, 77% of women with disabilities do not attend gynaecological appointments regularly, and 22% have never been to a gynaecologist in their lives. Some 64% said they had cancelled an appointment primarily because the building infrastructure or the equipment in the consulting room was not adapted to their needs.

In response to these challenges, we adapted our mobile gynaecology clinic to better support women with disabilities. In addition to providing appropriate manoeuvring space, the clinic was equipped with, among other things, a patient lift and rehabilitation wheelchair, an induction loop, access to a Polish Sign Language interpreter, and provision of accessible versions of essential documents and forms in Braille and Polish Sign Language.
Patients were able to benefit from free consultations and preventive examinations, including a gynaecological ultrasound, cervical smear test, HPV test and breast examination. Alongside the doctor, trained support staff were available, including a medical assistant. Specialist training was also delivered by the Kulawa Warszawa Foundation and the Avalon Foundation. As part of this edition, we reached ten towns across three regions, screening 325 women, including ninety women with disabilities.

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