Jennifer Ames, PhD
AIR-P Scholar, Cohort 5 (2024-2025)
About
Project Title: A Qualitative Study of Reproductive Health Care Experiences Among Autistic Adults
Institution: Kaiser Permanente Northern California – Division of Research
Project Overview
Summary: This project aims to identify barriers and facilitators to high-quality, accessible reproductive healthcare among autistic adults assigned female at birth (AFAB). The study seeks to enrich existing quantitative evidence by capturing the experiences of autistic patients directly through qualitative methods, addressing disparities in reproductive health care services.
Methods: The study will conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews with 15-20 autistic adults AFAB who are members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California. The interviews will explore participants' experiences with reproductive health care, and all study elements will be co-created with autistic and non-autistic collaborators.
Deliverables and Timeline: Results from the thematic analysis will be published in scientific and plain-language formats, shared with participants, and presented to clinicians within Kaiser Permanente. The project will span one year, with interview guide development and recruitment in months 1-3, interviews in months 4-6, analysis in months 7-9, and dissemination in months 10-12.
Project Mentors and Contributors:
Community Collaborators: Autistic and non-autistic partners involved in co-creation.