Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41855490›Full record

ReviewJMIR pediatrics and parenting2026

Digital Health Interventions for Sexual Health Education Among Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Scoping Review.

Elsi Rahmadani, Idris Adewale Ahmed

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in JMIR pediatrics and parenting, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Elsi RahmadaniSchool of Nursing & Applied Science, Lincoln University College, Petailing Jaya, Malaysia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-6020-5843
Idris Adewale AhmedSchool of Nursing & Applied Science, Lincoln University College, Petailing Jaya, Malaysia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2215-3900

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience persistent barriers to accessing comprehensive and developmentally appropriate sexual health education. Conventional curricula often fail to reflect their cognitive, social, and communication needs, increasing vulnerability to misinformation and sexual exploitation. Digital health interventions offer a promising avenue to deliver tailored, interactive, and accessible learning experiences for adolescents with ASD. Objective: This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize the evidence on digital health interventions designed to provide sexual health education to adolescents with ASD. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's framework, refined with Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and reported following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) standards. In total, 6 databases (ie, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, ERIC, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were searched from 2010 to June 2025. Eligible studies involved adolescents aged 10 to 19 years with ASD, used digital platforms to deliver sexual or reproductive health education, and were published in English. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted, and synthesized data using descriptive and thematic approaches. Results: A total of 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in high-income countries and delivered content through video-based, web-based, or mobile modalities. Key features associated with positive learning outcomes included personalization, strong visual interactivity, and caregiver involvement. Reported improvements focused on sexual knowledge, behavioral understanding, and user acceptability. However, methodological limitations were common, including small and nonrepresentative samples, a lack of standardized outcome measures, and minimal gender-specific or culturally adapted content. Notably, co-design with autistic adolescents and implementation in low- and middle-income countries was scarce. Conclusions: Digital health interventions demonstrate promising early effectiveness for delivering inclusive, developmentally appropriate sexual health education to adolescents with ASD. To advance this field, future research must strengthen methodological rigor, include diverse and gender-balanced populations, use participatory design, and ensure cultural adaptability to support equitable access globally.

Indexed as

adolescentsautism spectrum disorderdigital healthPRISMAscoping reviewsexual education

Identifiers

PMID41855490
PMCPMC13002158

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.