Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Givers

Regina Banda

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13

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Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Givers

Regina Banda

Published in International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences (Volume 6, Issue 6)

Received: 31 May 2021 Accepted: 16 June 2021 Published: 10 November 2021

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Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are debilitating lifelong neurodevelopmental disorders which have no cure but can be managed if timeously identified and effectively managed. Internationally prevalence is increasing and little is known about ASDs in Africa, although it is suspected the trends are following the international pattern of high prevalence. Various factors that affect the effective management of ASDs have been identified in previous research. These include low knowledge and negative attitudes towards the disorders in primary caregivers. Given that previous research places primary caregivers as key players in the successful management of ASDs and that there is a dearth of research on ASDs in Africa, this current research aimed to establish levels of knowledge of ASDs in primary caregivers in Zimbabwe as well as their attitudes towards ASDs and its treatments using a descriptive ex facto quantitative research design. A general lack of knowledge on ASDs and the legal provisions available for the protection of rights for individuals with ASDs was found in the sample as well as the presence of mixed attitudes towards ASDs and its treatments. Negative attitudes towards mainstream treatment of ASDs as well as negative attitudes towards diagnosis of the disorder itself were more prevalent than positive attitudes. It was recommended that there is need for more awareness campaigns and research on ASDs and a multi-sectoral approach to the management of ASDs.

Published in	International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences (Volume 6, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13
Page(s)	86-94
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Primary Caregivers, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attitude, Knowledge

References

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APA Style

Regina Banda. (2021). Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Givers. International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 6(6), 86-94. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13

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Regina Banda. Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Givers. Int. J. Psychol. Brain Sci. 2021, 6(6), 86-94. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13

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Regina Banda. Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Givers. Int J Psychol Brain Sci. 2021;6(6):86-94. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13,
  author = {Regina Banda},
  title = {Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Givers},
  journal = {International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences},
  volume = {6},
  number = {6},
  pages = {86-94},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijpbs.20210606.13},
  abstract = {Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are debilitating lifelong neurodevelopmental disorders which have no cure but can be managed if timeously identified and effectively managed. Internationally prevalence is increasing and little is known about ASDs in Africa, although it is suspected the trends are following the international pattern of high prevalence. Various factors that affect the effective management of ASDs have been identified in previous research. These include low knowledge and negative attitudes towards the disorders in primary caregivers. Given that previous research places primary caregivers as key players in the successful management of ASDs and that there is a dearth of research on ASDs in Africa, this current research aimed to establish levels of knowledge of ASDs in primary caregivers in Zimbabwe as well as their attitudes towards ASDs and its treatments using a descriptive ex facto quantitative research design. A general lack of knowledge on ASDs and the legal provisions available for the protection of rights for individuals with ASDs was found in the sample as well as the presence of mixed attitudes towards ASDs and its treatments. Negative attitudes towards mainstream treatment of ASDs as well as negative attitudes towards diagnosis of the disorder itself were more prevalent than positive attitudes. It was recommended that there is need for more awareness campaigns and research on ASDs and a multi-sectoral approach to the management of ASDs.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Givers
AU  - Regina Banda
Y1  - 2021/11/10
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13
T2  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
JF  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
JO  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
SP  - 86
EP  - 94
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1573
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13
AB  - Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are debilitating lifelong neurodevelopmental disorders which have no cure but can be managed if timeously identified and effectively managed. Internationally prevalence is increasing and little is known about ASDs in Africa, although it is suspected the trends are following the international pattern of high prevalence. Various factors that affect the effective management of ASDs have been identified in previous research. These include low knowledge and negative attitudes towards the disorders in primary caregivers. Given that previous research places primary caregivers as key players in the successful management of ASDs and that there is a dearth of research on ASDs in Africa, this current research aimed to establish levels of knowledge of ASDs in primary caregivers in Zimbabwe as well as their attitudes towards ASDs and its treatments using a descriptive ex facto quantitative research design. A general lack of knowledge on ASDs and the legal provisions available for the protection of rights for individuals with ASDs was found in the sample as well as the presence of mixed attitudes towards ASDs and its treatments. Negative attitudes towards mainstream treatment of ASDs as well as negative attitudes towards diagnosis of the disorder itself were more prevalent than positive attitudes. It was recommended that there is need for more awareness campaigns and research on ASDs and a multi-sectoral approach to the management of ASDs.
VL  - 6
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Regina Banda

Department of Applied Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

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APA Style

Regina Banda. (2021). Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Givers. International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 6(6), 86-94. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13

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ACS Style

Regina Banda. Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Givers. Int. J. Psychol. Brain Sci. 2021, 6(6), 86-94. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13

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AMA Style

Regina Banda. Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Givers. Int J Psychol Brain Sci. 2021;6(6):86-94. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13,
  author = {Regina Banda},
  title = {Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Givers},
  journal = {International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences},
  volume = {6},
  number = {6},
  pages = {86-94},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijpbs.20210606.13},
  abstract = {Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are debilitating lifelong neurodevelopmental disorders which have no cure but can be managed if timeously identified and effectively managed. Internationally prevalence is increasing and little is known about ASDs in Africa, although it is suspected the trends are following the international pattern of high prevalence. Various factors that affect the effective management of ASDs have been identified in previous research. These include low knowledge and negative attitudes towards the disorders in primary caregivers. Given that previous research places primary caregivers as key players in the successful management of ASDs and that there is a dearth of research on ASDs in Africa, this current research aimed to establish levels of knowledge of ASDs in primary caregivers in Zimbabwe as well as their attitudes towards ASDs and its treatments using a descriptive ex facto quantitative research design. A general lack of knowledge on ASDs and the legal provisions available for the protection of rights for individuals with ASDs was found in the sample as well as the presence of mixed attitudes towards ASDs and its treatments. Negative attitudes towards mainstream treatment of ASDs as well as negative attitudes towards diagnosis of the disorder itself were more prevalent than positive attitudes. It was recommended that there is need for more awareness campaigns and research on ASDs and a multi-sectoral approach to the management of ASDs.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Care Givers
AU  - Regina Banda
Y1  - 2021/11/10
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13
T2  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
JF  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
JO  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
SP  - 86
EP  - 94
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1573
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20210606.13
AB  - Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are debilitating lifelong neurodevelopmental disorders which have no cure but can be managed if timeously identified and effectively managed. Internationally prevalence is increasing and little is known about ASDs in Africa, although it is suspected the trends are following the international pattern of high prevalence. Various factors that affect the effective management of ASDs have been identified in previous research. These include low knowledge and negative attitudes towards the disorders in primary caregivers. Given that previous research places primary caregivers as key players in the successful management of ASDs and that there is a dearth of research on ASDs in Africa, this current research aimed to establish levels of knowledge of ASDs in primary caregivers in Zimbabwe as well as their attitudes towards ASDs and its treatments using a descriptive ex facto quantitative research design. A general lack of knowledge on ASDs and the legal provisions available for the protection of rights for individuals with ASDs was found in the sample as well as the presence of mixed attitudes towards ASDs and its treatments. Negative attitudes towards mainstream treatment of ASDs as well as negative attitudes towards diagnosis of the disorder itself were more prevalent than positive attitudes. It was recommended that there is need for more awareness campaigns and research on ASDs and a multi-sectoral approach to the management of ASDs.
VL  - 6
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download