HEALTHCARE AT THE MARGINS: SYSTEMATIC INSIGHTS INTO BARRIERS FACED BY DIFFERENTLY-ABLED WOMEN IN TRIPURA

Abstract

Disability affects over 15% of the global population, translating to nearly one billion individuals (WHO, 2011). Among these, women are disproportionately represented, with a 60% higher prevalence of disability than men—particularly in low-income countries. Differently-abled women (DAW) experience intersecting forms of marginalization, compounding the barriers they face in accessing healthcare services. These disparities are not only a matter of individual health outcomes but signal systemic gaps in social protection, healthcare infrastructure, and public policy.

DAW are at a significantly elevated risk for secondary health conditions including obesity, physical inactivity, and severe oral health problems. Women with intellectual disabilities, in particular, exhibit higher rates of health risk behaviors, lower physical activity levels, and are less likely to access preventive health services like Pap smears or mammograms. These inequalities result from a confluence of mobility, perceptual, and communication barriers within the healthcare system.

The situation is especially dire in low-resource settings such as Tripura, where geographic remoteness, lack of healthcare infrastructure, and prevailing social stigma amplify existing disparities. Despite global frameworks advocating for inclusive healthcare—such as the UNCRPD—implementation remains uneven. This study, therefore, seeks to explore, through a systematic review of qualitative studies, the lived healthcare experiences of DAW, with a focused lens on the state of Tripura, India.