Examining the Relationship of Social Determinants of Health and Healthcare Utilization in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

My name is Martha Gonzalez, and I am currently a doctoral candidate at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health who is interested in improving policies that help overlooked communities. Specifically, I am conducting research on the relationship between social determinants of health and health utilization in autistic adults. Social determinants of health refer to factors such as age, race, sex insurance status, and housing status that impacts the health of an individual. This research could help healthcare providers understand more about barriers that autistic adults face when seeking health care so that improvements can be made.

• Parents/caregivers of adults 18+ with ASD
• English speaking

You will be taking an online survey will ask questions about your autistic adult child/dependent/family member’s use of healthcare services, health conditions and status such as insurance, education, income, housing and geographical location. It includes questions about your adult child/dependent/family member’s social, communication and sensory challenges and whether these behaviors pose a barrier to getting healthcare services. The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete.

We want to learn whether there is a connection between the social determinants of health and use of health care services in autistic adults. Social determinants of health are factors such as age, race, gender, insurance status, and housing status that can impact the health of an individual