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Perceived Needs and Barriers in Raising a Child with ASD and Accessing Early Interventions in Qatar: Parents' Voices
Lara M Saranek1, Mujahed Shraim1, Nazim Abdel Aati2
1Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health Sector, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Insights
Parents in Qatar face significant challenges raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and accessing early intervention services. These findings highlight the need for improved support systems for families navigating ASD.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Pediatric Mental Health
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition often accompanied by mental health issues.
- Parenting a child with ASD presents unique challenges, with limited research on these experiences in Arab countries.
- This study focuses on parents' experiences in Qatar, a region with sparse data on ASD parental challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the lived experiences of parents raising a child diagnosed with ASD in Qatar.
- To investigate parental challenges in accessing early intervention services for children with ASD.
- To understand the impact of ASD and its associated services on families in Qatar.
Main Methods:
- An inductive qualitative study design was employed.
- Data collection involved face-to-face interviews with 20 parents of children with ASD.
- Thematic analysis was used to analyze verbatim interview transcripts.
Main Results:
- Key themes included the difficulties parents face in raising a child with ASD.
- Parents' perceptions of existing ASD and mental health services were explored.
- The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ASD services and its effect on parents were significant findings.
Conclusions:
- Parents encounter substantial challenges in raising children with ASD and accessing crucial early intervention services.
- Findings provide insights for healthcare professionals and policymakers to enhance ASD care standards in Qatar's governmental facilities.
- Improving support systems is vital for families raising children with ASD in Qatar.
Background:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder that is often associated with mental health comorbidities. Parents are challenged with raising a child diagnosed with ASD. However, research about parental challenges in Arab countries is limited. The study aims to explore parents' experiences of raising a child with ASD and accessing early interventions provided for their children in Qatar.
Methods:
An inductive qualitative study design was applied. Data was collected using face-to-face interviews with parents (n=20). Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was employed.
Results:
The main elicited themes from the analysis were mainly about: challenges of raising a child diagnosed with ASD; parents' perception of existing ASD services; parents' perception of mental health services for children diagnosed with ASD; parents' perception of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ASD services; and the impact of raising a child diagnosed with ASD on parents.
Conclusion:
Parents face challenges with raising a child diagnosed with ASD and with accessing ASD early intervention services for their children. The findings guide health care professionals working with children with ASD and their families, and policy makers in developing standards of care for ASD service in the governmental facilities in Qatar.
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