Publication: Caregivers strain in parenting children with autism spectrum disorders and its associated factors in Kelantan
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Date
2021
Authors
Padzir, Hazwani Mohamed
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Abstract
Title: Caregivers Strain in Parenting Children with ASD and Its Associated Factors in Kelantan. Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder of children that causes difficulties with social interaction, communication, and they exhibit unusual behavior patterns compared to children their age. This puts a strain on the caregiver. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the mean score of the caregiver strain index and its related factors in the care of children with ASD in Kelantan. Objective: To determine caregiver strain in parenting children with ASD and its associated factors in Kelantan. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study involving 149 caregivers of ASD children receiving treatment at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Clinic at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital and Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital in Kelantan from September 2018 to February 2019. Simple random sampling was applied. Data was entered and analysed using SPSS version 24. The Modified Caregiver Strain Index Malay version (M-CSI-M) was used to measure caregiver strain. Using linear regression, different factors, such as sociodemographic factors, social support factors, and coping styles, were studied for their association with caregiver strain. Results: The M-CSI-M mean score was 6.53 (SD2.96). Caregivers with good adaptive coping skills and higher perceived social support were significantly associated with minimal pressure on raising children with ASD. In our research, higher strain in parenting a child with ASD was associated with the male caregiver (p =0.02), higher level of education among caregivers (p=0.01), and ASD children with comorbidities (p=0.04). Conclusion: The mean caregiver strain index among caregivers of ASD children in Kelantan was lower than in other studies reported elsewhere. Good adaptive coping strategies and higher perceived social support can help reduce the strain on caregivers in ASD parenting children. Screening for caregiver strain should be performed during children's follow-up as a preventive measure to reduce higher caregiver strain. Caregivers' adjustment will be aided if effective interventions are implemented sooner. Knowing the factors that predispose caregivers to stress will encourage healthcare providers to take preventative steps when caring for children with ASD.
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Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Caregiver strain