Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Women and Birth

Volume

37

Issue

6

Publisher

Elsevier

School

School of Nursing and Midwifery

RAS ID

76023

Comments

Elliott, J. K., Buchanan, K., & Bayes, S. (2024). The neurodivergent perinatal experience—A systematic literature review on autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Women and Birth, 37(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101825

Abstract

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.

DOI

10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101825

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Download

Share

 
COinS