Parenting Challenges with Autistic Children in Bangladesh

Abstract

Objective: To explore the parent's experiences and challenges with autistic children in Bangladesh. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted among 19 parents with a child diagnosed with Autism in Bangladesh who were selected by using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed through content analysis. Results: Analysis of the transcripts of the in-depth interviews revealed four major themes regarding the parent’s experiences and challenges of having autistic children. These included: 1) Personal life impairment, 2) Economic challenges, 3) Hardships in handling the challenging behavior, and 4) Social stigma. Conclusion: This study’s findings will provide insight into the experiences and challenges of parents caring for children with Autism and also provide knowledge that can be used to raise public awareness of the unmet parental psychological needs associated with having a child with Autism, which will help to improve their quality of life.