| Autor: |
Daniels AM; Simons Foundation, 160, 5th Avenue, New York, NY, 10010, USA. adaniels@simonsfoundation.org., Como A; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center 'Mother Teresa', RR Dibres, 370, Tirana, Albania., Hergüner S; Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey., Kostadinova K; National Center of Public Health and Analyses, Boulevard 'Akademik Ivan Evstratiev Geshov', 15, 1431, Sofia, Bulgaria., Stosic J; Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zagreb, Borongajska cesta, 83f, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia., Shih A; Autism Speaks, 1 E, 33rd street, New York, NY, 10016, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
The aim of this study was to understand the diagnostic, service and lived experiences of families affected by ASD in Southeast Europe. A total of 758 caregivers from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Turkey were surveyed from 2013 to 2015 about characteristics of the child with ASD; service encounters; and caregiver perceptions. The average age at first concern was 24.4 months (SD 11.8) and at diagnosis, 40.0 months (SD 19.0). Psychiatrists were the most common diagnostician; most children received some ASD-related service, most frequently speech and language therapy. Caregivers endorsed challenges in access to care and perceived stigma. Despite country differences, findings relative to age at first concern, disparities in access and service utilization, and stigma speak to common regional needs. |
