In children born to mothers receiving public drug coverage in Ontario, Canada, in utero serotonergic antidepressant exposure compared with no exposure was not associated with autism spectrum disorder in the child. Although a causal relationship cannot be ruled out, the previously observed association may be explained by other factors.

Background While current practices strive to include individuals with intellectual disabilities in community opportunities, stigmatizing attitudes held by the public can be a barrier to achieving true social inclusion. Methods A sample of 625 community members completed the Social Distance Subscale of the Multidimensional Attitude Scale on Mental Retardation. Results Older and less educated participants held attitudes that reflected greater social distance. Participants who had a close family member with an intellectual disability and those who perceived the average level of disability to be 'mild' expressed less social distance. The limited variability in scores leads us to question our overall finding of very favourable attitudes towards social interaction with persons with intellectual disabilities.Conclusions This study demonstrates that although certain demographic variables are still relevant in identifying social distance attitudes, the measurement of this construct requires revision to ensure a valid and sensitive reflection of the public's attitudes.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have many health needs that place demands on the health service sector. This study used administrative data to compare health profiles in young adults 18–24 years of age with ASD to peers with and without other developmental disability. Young adults with ASD were more likely to have almost all the examined clinical health issues and health service use indicators compared to peers without developmental disability. They were more likely to have at least one psychiatric diagnosis, and visit the family physician, pediatrician, psychiatrist, and emergency department for psychiatric reasons, compared to peers with other developmental disability. Planning for the mental health care of transition age adults with ASD is an important priority for health policy.

Poor outcomes among infants born late preterm and early term are not only due to physiological immaturity but also to biological determinants of preterm birth acting through and with gestational age to produce poor outcomes.

O ne in 10 women of reproductive age has a disability. 1 While disabilities vary in their etiology and impact, they can be classified broadly based on common activity limitations. 2,3 Physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy and spinal cord injuries, are those associated with limits to mobility, flexibility, and dexterity; sensory disabilities include vision and hearing impairments; and intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, are associated with limitations in cognitive and adaptive functioning. In the past, stigma associated with disability and sexuality and medical factors, including risks of medication use in pregnancy, limited childbearing in women with disabilities. 4,5 However, with greater recognition of the reproductive rights of persons with disabilities 6 and medical advances, more women with disabilities now experience pregnancy. In fact, the 2008e2012 US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey showed that similar proportions of

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This study provides insight into needs which have not been met by the service system. Information about the unmet needs of children with an autism spectrum disorder and their families may help policy makers and service providers to develop resources and services that are responsive to their client group.

Objective To compare the risks for adverse maternal and offspring outcomes in women with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.Design Population-based cohort study.Setting Ontario, Canada.Population Singleton obstetrical deliveries to 18-to 49-year-old women with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (n = 3932 in the exposed cohort, n = 382 774 in the unexposed cohort; 2002-2011 fiscal years).Methods Women with intellectual and developmental disabilities were identified based on diagnoses in health administrative data or receipt of disability income support. The unexposed cohort comprised women without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Modified Poisson regression was used to compute adjusted relative risks (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing the two cohorts.Main outcome measures Primary maternal outcomes were: gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and venous thromboembolism. Primary offspring outcomes were: preterm birth, small for gestational age, and large for gestational age.Results The exposed cohort, compared with the unexposed cohort, had increased risks for pre-eclampsia (aRR 1.47, 95% CI 1.11-1.93) and venous thromboembolism (aRR 1.60, 95% CI 1.17-2.19). Their offspring had increased risks for preterm birth (aRR 1.63, 95% CI 1.47-1.80) and small for gestational age (aRR 1.35, 95% CI 1.25-1.45).Conclusions These findings suggest that there is a need to address modifiable risk factors for adverse outcomes among women with intellectual and developmental disabilities prior to and during pregnancy. Moreover, there is a need to enhance monitoring for maternal and offspring complications in this population.Keywords Developmental disabilities, intellectual disability, preeclampsia, preterm birth, small for gestational age, venous thromboembolism.