Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Intellectual Disabilities: New Insights from US Study

A US study found that pregnant women with intellectual disabilities, including autism, have fewer live births and more complications such as gestational diabetes and hypertension compared to non-disabled women. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed Medicaid data to highlight the need for tailored reproductive health services and policies.

A recent study conducted on the US population reveals that pregnant women with intellectual disabilities, including autism, experience fewer live births and face higher complications like gestational diabetes and hypertension, compared to those without such disabilities.

Findings published in JAMA Network Open highlighted that these women are also more likely to develop mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Researchers from the A J Drexel Autism Institute observed that these women tend to be younger at first delivery than their non-disabled counterparts.

The study analyzed health insurance claims from Medicaid (2008-2019), comparing over 55,000 women with intellectual disabilities to a random sample of 430,000 women without these conditions. The prevalence of live births was significantly lower (66.6%) among women with disabilities compared to those without (76.7%). Higher rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion were also noted in this group. The researchers recommend tailored reproductive health education and services for these women, along with policies to reduce maternal health disparities.

(With inputs from agencies.)