Investigation of the knowledge and awareness of parents with children aged 18-36 months about autism spectrum disorder

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge levels and awareness of parents with children aged 18 to 36 months regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and to determine the risk status of the children in terms of ASD. This cross-sectional and descriptive study included parents of children aged 18 to 36 months who applied to a Family Health Center in the province of Tokat. The data were collected using a sociodemographic information form, the Autism Awareness Scale, and the Turkish version of the M-CHAT. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software. The majority of the 212 parents who participated in the study were mothers (83%). The mean total score of the Autism Awareness Scale (AAS) was 3.44±0.35. According to this score, the participants' level of autism awareness was determined to be high (3.41–4.20). Based on the M-CHAT results, 92.9% of the children were found to be at risk for autism. Female parents had significantly higher awareness scores compared to male parents (p<0.05). Significant relationships were also identified between certain sociodemographic variables—such as number of children, income level, and family type—and subdimensions of autism awareness. Our study highlights the importance of ASD screening in primary care and the necessity for family physicians to play an active role in this process. Increasing parental awareness and conducting autism screening practices more effectively and face-to-face are of great importance for early diagnosis. Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, M-CHAT, Parental Awareness, Primary Care, Screening