World scientific production analysis in forced sterilization of women with disabilities between 1997-2016

Abstract

Objective: To explore world scientific production in forced sterilization of women with disabilities between 1997 and 2016, written in English and Spanish. Method: We carried out a descriptive, retrospective longitudinal study. The bibliometrics indicators of productivity, collaboration and subject-matter were studied. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used as an evidence-based framework to evaluate original articles and literature reviews. Results: A total of 139 documents were studied, in which 114 institutions from 24 countries participated. The results show that the greatest productivity was between 2007 and 2016, with predominance of studies written by female authors, based on literature review methodology, written in the English language. The majority of the authors were affiliated with a university and from activism of women with disabilities rather than any other organization. Conclusions: It is concluded that while insufficiently explored in either language, there is a growing interest in this issue. There is a prominent focus in the literature on denunciation of this practice as a violation of human rights, with greater emphasis after The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Violence against women with disabilities is a global health problem; one of its manifestations has been the practice of forced sterilization, which has received relatively little attention in the literature. Governments, health professionals and communities must have access to this knowledge, awareness and the likelihood of eradicating all forms of violence must be increased.