Zeenaf Aslam, Dildar Muhammad, Fareeha Latif, Hizbullah, Shaier Khan, Sardar Ali, Farhan Mukhtar, Badil.
Parents` Perceptions and Lived Experiences of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Pak Paed J Jan ;46(2):139-47.

Objectives: The study aimed to explore the challenges faced by parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Study Design: A phenomenological design was used. Place and Duration of Study: Total of eight participants were recruited and the study was conducted from April 2022 to July 2022. Material and Methods: An interview guide comprised of semi-structured questions eliciting information regarding lived experiences and support systems of parents in seeking therapies for autistic children was utilized. Face-to-face in-depth interviews of the potential study participants were conducted. Results: Using thematic analysis, three major themes and eight subthemes emerged from the data. The major themes included parental issues, socio-cultural issues, and health care system issues. Conclusion: This study has highlighted the primary caregiver`s perceptions, experiences and psycho-social support system of a disabled child in Pakistan. The findings suggest the provision of additional education and training sessions for the parents of children having autism to promote their wellbeing.

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