Ames JL, Anderson MC, Cronbach E, Lee C, Onaiwu MG, Vallerie AM, Croen LA. Reproductive healthcare in adolescents with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024;
230:546.e1-546.e14. [PMID:
38218512 PMCID:
PMC11070300 DOI:
10.1016/j.ajog.2024.01.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Adults with developmental disabilities often have less access to reproductive health services than adults without these disabilities. However, little is known about how adolescents with developmental disabilities, including autism, access reproductive healthcare.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to characterize the use of reproductive healthcare services among adolescents with autism and those with other developmental disabilities in comparison with adolescents with typical development.
STUDY DESIGN
We conducted a cohort study of a sample of adolescents who were continuously enrolled members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated healthcare system, from ages 14 to 18 years. The final analytical sample included 700 adolescents with autism, 836 adolescents with other developmental disabilities, and 2187 typically developing adolescents who sought care between 2000 and 2017. Using the electronic health record, we obtained information on menstrual conditions, the use of obstetrical-gynecologic care, and prescriptions of hormonal contraception. We compared healthcare use between the groups using chi-square tests and covariate-adjusted risk ratios estimated using modified Poisson regression.
RESULTS
Adolescents with autism and those with other developmental disabilities were significantly more likely to have diagnoses of menstrual disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome, and premenstrual syndrome than typically developing adolescents. These 2 groups also were less likely than typically developing peers to visit the obstetrician-gynecologist or to use any form of hormonal contraception, including oral contraception, hormonal implants, and intrauterine devices. Adolescents in all 3 groups accessed hormonal contraception most frequently through their primary care provider, followed by an obstetrician-gynecologist.
CONCLUSION
Adolescents with autism and those with other developmental disabilities are less likely than their typically developing peers to visit the obstetrician-gynecologist and to use hormonal contraception, suggesting possible care disparities that may persist into adulthood. Efforts to improve access to reproductive healthcare in these populations should target care delivered in both the pediatric and obstetrics-gynecology settings.
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