Autistic women accessing maternity care face significant barriers including heightened sensory sensitivities, physical discomfort during examinations, and communication challenges with clinicians (Hampton et al., 2023). These difficulties can compound the already demanding experience of pregnancy and childbirth, potentially impacting both maternal wellbeing and birth outcomes. Recent research indicates that while maternity services lack adequate awareness of autism-specific needs, midwifery-led care demonstrates better understanding and responsiveness to autistic women’s requirements (Moore et al., 2024). However, positive experiences have been documented primarily among low-risk pregnancies, leaving substantial gaps in knowledge about appropriate adaptations for complex maternity care contexts and diverse autistic presentations.
Researchers have advocated for inclusive, tailored maternity care through clinically-based adaptations, yet a critical knowledge gap exists. Although adaptations to healthcare services for autistic adults have been explored in mental health and general medical settings (e.g. Norris et al., 2024), no comprehensive synthesis of evidence-based adaptations specific to maternity services exists. Furthermore, the effectiveness and clinical utility of proposed adaptations remain largely unevaluated, limiting translation into practice guidelines and service improvements.
This systematic review will address two research questions: 1) What clinical guidelines are available for tailoring maternity services for autistic women? 2) What evaluations have been conducted on adaptations to maternity services for autistic women? The student will conduct comprehensive database searches, quality appraisal, and thematic synthesis of identified studies and guidelines.
The project is supervised by Dr. Fionnuala Larkin, Senior Lecturer and Clinical Psychologist at University College Cork, whose research program focuses on autistic motherhood and perinatal mental health, utilizing Patient and Public Involvement approaches. The student will prepare the methods and results sections of a manuscript for publication, contributing to the evidence base needed to inform clinical practice improvements and future intervention development in maternity services for autistic women