Parents' and professionals' perceptions on causes and treatment options for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a multicultural context on the Kenyan Coast
<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To explore parents’ and professionals’ perceived causes and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) on the Kenyan Coast.</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>In-depth interviews and focus group discussions using guiding questi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science
2015
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| _version_ | 1826317727397052416 |
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| author | Gona, JK Newton, CR Rimba, K Mapenzi, R Kihara, M Van de Vijver, FJR Abubakar, A |
| author_facet | Gona, JK Newton, CR Rimba, K Mapenzi, R Kihara, M Van de Vijver, FJR Abubakar, A |
| author_sort | Gona, JK |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | <p><strong>Objective: </strong>To explore parents’ and professionals’ perceived causes and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) on the Kenyan Coast.</p>
<p><strong>Methods: </strong>In-depth interviews and focus group discussions using guiding questions were utilized in data collection. One hundred and three participants, who included parents of children with ASD, special needs teachers, clinicians, and social workers from diverse cultural background, participated in this study. The interviews and focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim and then translated to English. Themes were generated using content analysis.</p>
<p><strong>Results: </strong>Preternatural causes were mentioned and included evil spirits, witchcraft, and curses. Biomedical causes comprised infections, drug abuse, birth complications, malnutrition, and genetic related problems. Treatment varied from traditional and spiritual healing to modern treatment in health facilities, and included consultations with traditional healers, offering prayers to God, and visits to hospitals.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results suggest that regardless of cultural backgrounds, people on the Kenyan Coast have similar views on perceived causes and treatment of ASD. These findings provide valuable conceptual understanding for professionals when planning and implementing community based rehabilitation interventions targeting children with ASD within a local context.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2025-03-11T16:58:30Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:b9df4e42-9429-4918-8b7d-c3f125eb08b4 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-11T16:58:30Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:b9df4e42-9429-4918-8b7d-c3f125eb08b42025-03-05T11:07:30ZParents' and professionals' perceptions on causes and treatment options for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a multicultural context on the Kenyan CoastJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:b9df4e42-9429-4918-8b7d-c3f125eb08b4EnglishSymplectic ElementsPublic Library of Science2015Gona, JKNewton, CRRimba, KMapenzi, RKihara, MVan de Vijver, FJRAbubakar, A<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To explore parents’ and professionals’ perceived causes and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) on the Kenyan Coast.</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>In-depth interviews and focus group discussions using guiding questions were utilized in data collection. One hundred and three participants, who included parents of children with ASD, special needs teachers, clinicians, and social workers from diverse cultural background, participated in this study. The interviews and focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim and then translated to English. Themes were generated using content analysis.</p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>Preternatural causes were mentioned and included evil spirits, witchcraft, and curses. Biomedical causes comprised infections, drug abuse, birth complications, malnutrition, and genetic related problems. Treatment varied from traditional and spiritual healing to modern treatment in health facilities, and included consultations with traditional healers, offering prayers to God, and visits to hospitals.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results suggest that regardless of cultural backgrounds, people on the Kenyan Coast have similar views on perceived causes and treatment of ASD. These findings provide valuable conceptual understanding for professionals when planning and implementing community based rehabilitation interventions targeting children with ASD within a local context.</p> |
| spellingShingle | Gona, JK Newton, CR Rimba, K Mapenzi, R Kihara, M Van de Vijver, FJR Abubakar, A Parents' and professionals' perceptions on causes and treatment options for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a multicultural context on the Kenyan Coast |
| title | Parents' and professionals' perceptions on causes and treatment options for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a multicultural context on the Kenyan Coast |
| title_full | Parents' and professionals' perceptions on causes and treatment options for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a multicultural context on the Kenyan Coast |
| title_fullStr | Parents' and professionals' perceptions on causes and treatment options for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a multicultural context on the Kenyan Coast |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parents' and professionals' perceptions on causes and treatment options for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a multicultural context on the Kenyan Coast |
| title_short | Parents' and professionals' perceptions on causes and treatment options for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a multicultural context on the Kenyan Coast |
| title_sort | parents and professionals perceptions on causes and treatment options for autism spectrum disorders asd in a multicultural context on the kenyan coast |
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