BACKGROUND:
People with mild intellectual disabilities (MID) and/or mental health vulnerabilities (MHV) often face barriers in accessing reproductive health services and support during early parenthood. These include limited help-seeking behavior, and challenges that professionals face in recognizing and addressing such vulnerabilities. In Groningen, the Netherlands, existing interventions reach only a small portion of this population. Professional hesitance, driven by uncertainty and moral dilemmas, often leads to missed opportunities for timely, appropriate care.

OBJECTIVES:
This project aimed to (1) improve recognition of MID and MHV in reproductive health and parenting contexts, and (2) facilitate open, respectful conversations between professionals and clients about sexuality, contraception, reproductive intentions, pregnancy and parenting.

METHODS:
Two interdisciplinary communities of practice were established, each focused on one objective. Participants included professionals from the social and medical domains and experts by experience. Through iterative cycles of exploration, planning, action, and reflection, two tailored interventions were co-designed and piloted. Data collection included interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires, literature reviews, and creative tools. Emphasis was placed on co-creation, contextual relevance, and reflexivity.

RESULTS:
Participants confirmed the project’s problem analysis, noting that siloed practices hinder recognition. While there was shared ambition to improve screening, planning was blocked by earlier failed attempts to agree on a universal tool. In response, the communities aligned efforts and developed a dialogical tool and interprofessional training to support professionals in improving both uptake and quality of conversations. Evaluation showed increased confidence, awareness of care pathways, and stronger collaboration between the domains. Gaps remain in knowledge on stigma, legal frameworks, and local agreements.

CONCLUSIONS:
Improved recognition and addressing MID and MHV in reproductive health require both bottom-up co-creation and top-down commitment. Sustainable change depends on leadership support, time for reflection, and peer learning.

KEY MESSAGE:
Inclusive reproductive care emerges from co-creation—supported by structural investment, policy alignment, and leadership commitment. Poster session 4 (Group B)