Date of Award

11-10-2023

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Health Policy and Management

First Advisor

Dr Ali Faisal Saleem

Second Advisor

Dr Sidra Kaleem

Third Advisor

Dr Shifa Habib

Department

Community Health Sciences

Abstract

Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes stress and worry in primary caretakers, especially mothers. Carers are plagued by psychological distress, melancholy, anxiety, and financial difficulties. There is a lack of reliable epidemiologic data in developing nations, and Pakistan faces challenges in providing professional support programs. This study aimed to increase public awareness, investigate and shed light on the challenges encountered by parents of autistic children in Karachi, Pakistan, who are seeking tertiary care services at both public and private tertiary care hospitals. In addition, the study sought to comprehend the difficulties encountered by medical professionals who treat children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in hospital settings.
Methodology Utilizing a qualitative exploratory study design. The number of participants 15-20 were deemed appropriate for each group, including parents/guardians and healthcare professionals, who were recruited through purposive sampling for this study. To gain a detailed and in-depth understanding of the population, their perspectives and experiences were explored. The in-depth interviews of the participants were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed.
Findings: The results of the content analysis of the interview transcripts highlight how important it is for families to embrace and understand their autistic family members throughout the early stages of intervention. Therapy consistency within the family microsystem is found to be an important component, which is consistent with previous research highlighting the significance of preserving treatment consistency especially at home for the best possible results. The study emphasizes how important it is for the microsystem to have efficient behaviour management techniques, including Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), in order to handle behavioural issues in kids with autism. Furthermore, difficulties in the vi mesosystem specifically, organizational problems in healthcare systems were found to have a major impact on the quality of care provided to autistic children. The study also sheds light on the financial consequences that families must deal with, highlighting the costs of caring for children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which include costs for therapeutic interventions, educational programmes, and medical attention.
Conclusion: The conclusion of this study emphasizes the intricacy of therapist for children diagnosed with autism. It emphasizes the significance of family support, consistency, and appropriate resources in facilitating therapies. Additionally, it underscores the importance of remaining up-to-date with the advancements in the field and the imperative nature of addressing challenges within organizations.

First Page

1

Last Page

104

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