Attitudes Toward Autism Spectrum Disorders Among Students of Allied Health Professions

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Public Health
• Genetics

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence is rising.
• Prenatal diagnosis for non-life-threatening conditions is becoming more common.
• Understanding attitudes towards prenatal diagnosis of ASD is crucial for healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore attitudes toward prenatal diagnosis for autism spectrum disorders.
• To assess the social acceptability of autism spectrum disorders among allied health students.
• To identify factors influencing these attitudes.

Main Methods:

• A structured, self-report questionnaire was administered to 305 college students in nursing and health systems management.
• The questionnaire included sections on personal data and attitudes toward prenatal diagnosis of non-life-threatening disorders, including ASD.
• Statistical analysis was performed to identify influential factors.

Main Results:

• Approximately 66% of students indicated they would not continue a pregnancy if diagnosed with autism.
• Over 50% stated they would not continue a pregnancy if the fetus had Asperger's syndrome.
• Age, religiosity, and years of education significantly influenced these attitudes.

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion of future healthcare professionals exhibit a negative attitude towards continuing pregnancies with a prenatal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
• This finding may indicate a broader negative perception of ASD among these students.
• Further research is needed to explore attitudes and social acceptability of ASD among healthcare professionals.