5. Conclusions
psychosocial distress, illness, disability
INFLUENZAS, VIRUS
Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on women with SCI. Our findings bring forward the complex and nuanced impact experienced by women with SCI, with both positive, negative, mixed, and neutral impacts. Although, the largest impact on women with SCI has been identified as negative, this study brings forward other reactions and impacts in this population that should be explored further. The eight themes identified in this study indicate areas of importance in this population, with mental and social health concerns being most prominent. The COVID-19 issues experienced by people with disabilities during the pandemic may persist as the virus becomes endemic post-pandemic. Those issues include elevated risks and fears related to exposure to the virus; need for equitable access to testing and vaccines; early intervention if infected, as well as a greater probability of experiencing severe illness, hospitalization, longer recovery process, psychosocial distress, and mortality (16–24). This new phase of the COVID-19 virus will continue to affect our communities, and there will be a need to address it in predictable ways, such as the measures taken to contain seasonal influenzas and their historically disproportionate consequences for people living with SCI and other chronic, disabling health conditions. We strongly urge providers, policy makers, health and disability researchers, disability advocates, and other influential entities to help ensure that, during future public health crises, women with SCI have access to disability-sensitive and affordable support, resources, and interventions to prevent the deterioration of their preexisting compromised health issues. Such mobilization of resources is especially important for women with SCI that lack adequate assistive devices and personal assistance, live in poverty and/or live in rural areas, and thus lack access to appropriate sources of assistance, technology, and opportunities.