This collection of studies forms part of Breaking Down Barriers, a research initiative that strengthens disability‑inclusive development by generating practical, context‑grounded knowledge. Across Uganda, Sierra Leone, Cameroon and Sub‑Saharan Africa more broadly, the publications reveal consistent challenges experienced by women and girls with disabilities in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and family planning services.
These include stigma, religious restrictions, inaccessible infrastructure, communication barriers, financial dependence, and gaps in provider knowledge. Family dynamics often play a dual role—sometimes enabling access, but frequently limiting autonomy. Together, the papers highlight how intersecting identities such as impairment type, education level, geography, religion, and socioeconomic status create diverse and unequal experiences of SRHR access.
Below is a 1‑sentence key recommendation for practice from each publication:
1. Uganda – SRH Access for Women with Disabilities
→ Address environmental stigma, strengthen family support, and invest in education and financial independence to improve equitable access to SRH services.
2. Sierra Leone – Family Planning Access
→ Provide disability‑sensitive family planning through tailored provider training, inclusive communication, and cultural engagement with families and religious leaders.
3. Cameroon – SRH Access and Intersectional Barriers
→ Improve access through inclusive communication training, mobile and accessible services, financial support measures, and intersectional SRH policy reform.
4. Sub‑Saharan Africa – Literature Review
→ Integrate disability‑inclusive SRH approaches by strengthening provider competencies, infrastructure, affordability, and targeted education for women with disabilities.
5. Synthesis Brief – Four‑Country Comparison
→ Adopt cross‑country intersectional reforms that combine provider training, accessibility improvements, family engagement, and disability‑inclusive SRHR policies.