WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Saja Yaser Abdulateef* and Lamyaa Ali Hasan

ABSTRACT

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that primarily affects youngchildren, impacting their social interaction, communication, and behavior. Early diagnosis plays a crucial role inimproving outcomes, supporting families, and enabling timely access to appropriate interventions. It can enhancesocial integration and promote greater independence in adulthood. Objective: The study aimed to assess parents'knowledge about ASD and examine the association between parental sociodemographic factors and theirknowledge level. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Baghdad/Al-Khark fromMarch 1 to August 31, 2024. A total of 400 parents attending primary health care centers were selected using aconvenient sampling method. Data collection was conducted through a structured questionnaire divided into twosections: one assessing parental knowledge about ASD and the other covering sociodemographic variables.Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test, with a p-value of significant. Results: The most represented age group was 30–39 years (43.75%), and the majority were females(78.75%). Parents with a bachelor’s degree or higher accounted for 92% of the sample and showed higher levelsof knowledge (72.25%). However, no statistically significant association was found between knowledge level andvariables such as age, gender, occupation, or education. Overall, most parents demonstrated fair knowledge aboutASD. Conclusion: Parents generally had a fair level of knowledge about ASD, with better understanding notedamong younger, educated, and employed females. More educational efforts are needed, particularly targetingmales and those with lower education, to improve awareness of ASD's etiology, symptoms, assessment, anddiagnosis.