An ecological perspective on parents' experiences of having a child with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in the South African context.

摘要

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has traditionally been understood and treatedudbio‐medically. However, bio‐ecological and eco‐systems theory, as well as a vastudbody of literature, suggests that ASD has a systemic impact, unique to eachudcontext. This study aimed to understand the systemic and ecological experiencesudof parents’ to children with ASD in the South African context with regard to ASDudand ASD intervention. Eight parents to children with ASD were interviewedudusing a semi‐structured interview schedule. The data were analysed usinguddeductive thematic content analysis. The study found that, in the South Africanudcontext, both Indigenous and Western Knowledge Systems impact on parents’udexperiences of having a child with ASD. It further found that ASD had a systemicudimpact, and that current ASD intervention failed to target the needs across theudsystem. Lastly, it found that stigma originates from both Indigenous and WesternudKnowledge Systems, and that information about ASD is of great importance toudparents in the South African context.