EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES FACED BY PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH ASD IN RURAL NIGERIAN COMMUNITIES: A MULTIDIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND INTERVENTION
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The study examined the difficulties encountered by parents of children with ASD in rural communities in Nigeria. The lack of sufficient healthcare facilities and proficient practitioners in rural locations hinders the availability of early intervention services. The cultural beliefs and misconceptions surrounding ASD exacerbate stigma, discrimination, and social isolation experienced by diagnosed children and their families. This study investigated the accessibility and effectiveness of community-based support systems in rural areas, such as informal networks and local organizations. Additionally, the study investigated parents' perspectives regarding enhancing support structures and treatments specifically designed for the rural Nigerian setting. The study was a qualitative study using a narrative approach. The study included five parents, each with a child diagnosed with ASD and who resides in rural Nigerian communities. Interview and focus group questions that were framed served as the method of data collection. A thematic coding process was used for the analysis and the software employed was the MAXQDA software. The study findings indicated that parents of children diagnosed with ASD in rural areas of Nigeria face various challenges. These challenges include financial constraints, cultural barriers, lack of awareness and knowledge, psychological trauma, social rejection (stigmatization), limited educational resources, insufficient availability of specialists and rehabilitation facilities, and inadequate support and expertise. The study also found that parents believe that improving support systems and interventions in rural Nigeria can be achieved through the provision of facilities, development of comprehensive programs, establishment of direct partnerships, involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), provision of trained educators, and community interventions. It has been suggested that there should be an increase in the establishment of formal networks in rural Nigerian communities for children with ASD. Enhancing outcomes for parents necessitates the implementation of community awareness, early intervention efforts, and counseling assistance for families. It implies that providing parents with information and intervention choices for autism might help alleviate the difficulties associated with managing the condition.