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The neurodivergent perinatal experience - A systematic literature review on autism and attention deficit
Jata K Elliott1, Kate Buchanan1, Sara Bayes1
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Jata # 0459464259, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.
Insights
Neurodivergent individuals, including those with Autism (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), face unmet needs in perinatal care. Current services require significant improvements to support their unique experiences during pregnancy and early parenting.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Health
- Neurodiversity Studies
- Healthcare Disparities
Background:
- Neurodivergent individuals experience unique perinatal challenges impacting pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.
- Existing perinatal care often fails to address the specific needs of neurodivergent individuals with conditions like Autism (ASD) and ADHD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze literature on the perinatal experiences of neurodivergent individuals.
- To identify challenges and propose improvements for perinatal services catering to neurodivergent populations.
- To highlight research gaps for future studies and enhanced care quality.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of scientific databases for relevant research articles.
- Inclusion of eleven studies after rigorous quality appraisal.
- Thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in neurodivergent perinatal experiences.
Main Results:
- Key themes identified: care provider support, perinatal mental health needs, and resilience/growth.
- Significant differences exist in perinatal experiences between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals.
- Current care approaches are often inadequate for neurodivergent parturients.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal care systems must integrate neurodiversity-affirming practices.
- Tailored care approaches are essential to address the specific needs of neurodivergent individuals.
- Future research should explore intersectionality and include diverse neurodivergent voices.
Background:
Neurodivergent individuals often face unique challenges during the perinatal period, which can significantly impact their experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting. Despite growing awareness of neurodiversity, there remains a gap in perinatal care that fully addresses the lived experiences and needs of those with neurodivergent conditions such as Autism (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Objective:
To compile and analyse recent literature on the perinatal experiences of neurodivergent parturients. To provide an overview of current knowledge, identify prevalent challenges, and suggest opportunities for improving perinatal services. Additionally, we aim to highlight research gaps that guide future studies and enhance care quality for neurodivergent individuals during the perinatal period.
Methods:
The Systematic Reviews methodological process was utilised to search relevant scientific databases to gather current research articles on neurodivergent perinatal experiences. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria and were appraised using a rigorous quality checklist. Thematic analysis identified recurring themes across the selected papers.
Results:
Three major themes emerged: Care provider support, Perinatal mental health needs, and Resilience and growth of neurodivergent parturients. These themes highlight significant differences in perinatal experiences between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals, underscoring the need for tailored care approaches.
Conclusion:
The findings reveal that current perinatal care practices do not adequately address the specific challenges faced by perinatal neurodivergent individuals. There is a critical need for perinatal care systems to integrate neurodiversity-affirming practices. Future research should consider intersectionality to include marginalised and underrepresented neurodivergent voices.
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