Black Caregiver Perspectives During a Developmental Diagnostic Interview.

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Cultural Psychiatry
• Health Disparities Research

Background:

• Autism prevalence is rising across diverse populations.
• Cultural factors in developmental diagnostic conversations are under-researched.
• Black caregivers face discrimination and lack of cultural competence in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To center Black caregivers' perspectives in a developmental diagnostic program for young children.
• To identify factors influencing diagnostic experiences for Black families.
• To inform culturally responsive diagnostic practices.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective qualitative study involving 19 Black caregivers of 13 toddlers.
• Semi-structured interviews conducted by a multidisciplinary clinical team.
• Conceptual content analysis of caregiver descriptions and experiences.

Main Results:

• Caregivers described behaviors in language, learning, and temperament categories.
• Descriptions were associated with situational and dispositional factors.
• Experiences highlighted the need for improved cultural competence.

Conclusions:

• Findings offer insights for culturally responsive diagnostic practices.
• Enhancing caregiver-provider interactions can lead to earlier, more accurate diagnoses.
• This research addresses critical gaps in autism diagnostics for Black children.