Experiences and perceptions of parents raising children with autism

Abstract Background The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in general and autism in particular is on raise globally and the need for evidence-based intervention and care for children with autism has grown, too. However, evidence on autism is scanty in developing countries including Ethiopia. With the aim to help fill the gap and paucity in research into the issue, the main purpose of this study is to explore, better understand, and document the experiences and perceptions of parents of children with autism. Methods Qualitative survey was used to collect data from a convenient sample of parents raising a child with autism. Twenty-one respondents completed the qualitative survey dispatched. Vast majority (about 80%) of the participants were mothers who were caring for their child with autism. Age of the participant parents ranged between 27 and 67 years (Mean Age = 44.00 years; Standard Deviation = 10.02 years). Ages of children with autism cared for ranged between 4 and 43 years (Mean Age = 15.00 years; Standard Deviation = 8.17 years). Findings The data collected were subjected to qualitative analysis that yielded several themes and subthemes including late diagnosis, parents’ reactions to diagnosis, sources of information during and after diagnosis, differing reactions to having a child with autism from siblings, extended family members and the larger community, attribution of autism to several causes by the community, lack of recognition and open discussion of autism and lack of appropriated public educational and health care services for children with autism and their parents. Conclusion The current research derived some themes and subthemes that revolve around the experiences and perceptions of parents raising children with autism. By so doing, it shed an important light on the situations of parents raising children with autism. Based on the findings of this research, some practical implications were drawn.