The healthcare experiences of middle and older age autistic women in the United Kingdom.

ABSTRACT: Autistic women experience a higher prevalence of physical and mental health conditions compared with autistic men and non-autistic women, plus greater premature mortality and a higher suicide risk. However, little is known about autistic women's experiences of healthcare, particularly in middle and later life. We aimed to explore autistic women's perspectives on accessing healthcare services in the United Kingdom. Fifteen autistic women aged between 51 and 73 years participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four main themes were generated: (1) Stigma and stereotypes in professionals' understanding of autism leading to poor-quality care, (2) Accumulation of negative healthcare experiences reducing participants' confidence in services,

SUBMITTER: Gillions A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12717282 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature