Reproductive Healthcare Access and Genetic Testing Decision-Making Among Women With Increased Likelihood of Having a Child With Autism

Abstract

This study aims to understand reproductive healthcare decision-making and perceptions among mothers of children with an increased likelihood of autism. Researchers conducted 18 interviews (February–November 2020) with women aged 23 to 59 years (37.07 ± 7.88) in the United States. Researchers used methods from expanded grounded theory to explore women’s healthcare decision-making. Findings suggest that women pursue team-based care with an OB/GYN as their primary care provider, clear patient–provider communication delivers greater healthcare experiences, and inconsistent prenatal genetic testing communication yielded decreased opportunities and widespread misconceptions. Understanding reproductive healthcare access and decision-making among this population allows researchers to recommend interventions for improving overall health outcomes.