Service gaps among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families in selected sites of Addis Ababa
| dc.contributor.advisor | Tenagne Alemu, (PhD) | |
| dc.contributor.author | Marta Teklie | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-12-26T13:01:13Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-12-26T13:01:13Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-05-01 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a growing public health concern in Ethiopia, with limited research on the availability and accessibility of specialized services for affected children and their families. This research aimed to investigate the critical service deficiencies faced by children with ASD and their caregivers in Addis Ababa. A qualitative, cross-sectional research was conducted in Addis Ababa, involving in-depth interviews with six parents/caregivers of children with ASD, a key informant interview with one healthcare professional, one education specialist, and one service provider for the ASD population. Observation was also integrated into the deployed methods to better understand the daily activities of parents and caregivers and the situation of the services provided. The findings revealed significant gaps and challenges in the ASD service at the selected sites in Addis Ababa. Key issues included: limited availability of specialized ASD diagnostic, therapeutic, and educational services; shortage of trained professionals and therapists; high out-of-pocket costs for ASD-related services; low public awareness; and slowly progressing government support with loose follow-up in the implementation. The research emphasizes how critical it is to develop a thorough, multi-stakeholder strategy to address the inadequate services for children with ASD in Addis Ababa and throughout Ethiopia. The creation of integrated, family-centered support networks, community-based awareness campaigns, policy changes, increased government funding, and the strengthening of the healthcare and education systems' capacities are all suggested interventions. The quality of life and developmental outcomes for Ethiopian families with children with ASD can be greatly enhanced by filling in these crucial gaps. SERVICE GAPS AMONG CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)… | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/4024 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | |
| dc.subject | Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) | |
| dc.subject | ASD population. | |
| dc.subject | ASD diagnostic | |
| dc.title | Service gaps among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families in selected sites of Addis Ababa | |
| dc.type | Thesis |