Barriers and Facilitators for Addressing Sex Education for Autistic Individuals: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Autistic individuals face challenges in expressing their sexuality and understanding social norms, exacerbated by inadequate sex education. To improve the acquisition of sex education programs, this systematic review identified and synthesized the barriers and facilitators to addressing sex education for autistic learners. A comprehensive database search included five articles after screening the title, abstract, and full-text using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study (PICOS) framework-guided eligibility criteria. Inductive thematic analysis revealed four key themes of “Resource Availability,” “ASD-specific Curriculum,” “Parent-child interaction,” and “Perception of Sexuality and Disability.” These findings underscore the need for inclusive, accessible sex education to enhance comprehension and applicability for autistic individuals, using visual stimulus, personalized learning, and technological integrations.