Date Presented 03/22/24
Menstruation and menstrual hygiene management for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an area of OT that is underdiscussed. This poster highlights the perspectives of caregivers of children with ASD with regard to menstruation.
Primary Author and Speaker: Glynnis Jones
Additional Authors and Speakers: Samantha Helsley, Alexandra Grasso, Rebecah Fox, Ava Tumminello
Contributing Authors: Kimberly D. Wynarczuk, Ann Potter
IMPORTANCE: Menstruation and menstrual hygiene management for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an area that occupational therapy practitioners are able to address (AOTA, 2020); however, often do not as it is under researched and under discussed (Cummins et al., 2018; Secor-Turner et al., 2022). Caregivers of children with ASD are able to provide significant insight into how to address menstruation from their firsthand experiences (Cridland et al., 2013).
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of caregivers of children with ASD with regards to addressing menstruation and menstrual hygiene management.
METHOD: Following a phenomenological approach, semi structured interviews with 8 caregivers of children with ASD were performed over Zoom. Data analysis included interview transcription, coding, and development of themes.
PARTICIPANTS: 8 participants, including 7 biological mothers and 1 adoptive father, were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling.
RESULTS: Several themes emerged from the data including: inadequate expertise in women’s health and ASD among medical professionals, parental dependency, intensified sensory experiences prior to and during menstruation, and limited menstrual awareness and understanding in individuals with ASD.
CONCLUSION/RELEVANCE: As a result of this topic being under researched and under addressed, occupational therapy practitioners may gain knowledge from the lived experiences of caregivers of children with ASD regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene management to inform their practice.
IMPACT STATEMENT: The literature on menstruation and menstrual hygiene management in occupational therapy is scant. This study sheds light on this vital topic and paves the way for future research to represent the distinct value of occupational therapy.
References
Cummins, C., Pellicano, E., & Crane, L. (2018). Supporting minimally verbal autistic girls with intellectual disabilities through puberty: Perspectives of parents and educators. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50, 2439–2448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3782-8
Secor-Turner, M., Huseth-Zosel, A., & Ostlund, R. (2022). Menstruation experiences of middle and high school students in the midwest: A pilot study. Journal of School Nursing, 38(6), 504–510. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059840520974234
Cridland, E. K., Jones, S. C., Caputi, P., & Magee, C. A. (2014). Being a girl in a boy’s world: Investigating the experiences of girls with autism spectrum disorders during adolescence. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44, 1261–1274. https://doi.org/10.1007 /s10803-013-1985-6
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and process (4th ed). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(2), 30–32. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001
