Frequency of Autism in Nuclear and Joint family system

Abstract

Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social interaction, communication, and behavior. Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects individual’s communication and interaction with others, as well as their understanding of the world. There is limited literature available from Pakistan, therefore this study was designed to find the frequency of autism in nuclear and joint family systems. This was a Cross-sectional observational study conducted in various healthcare settings, including the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Orion Center, and Sehat Medical Complex, Pakistan from February 2023 to July 2023. Purposive sampling was the method of sampling used in this investigation (n=133). Parents or caregivers who have a minimum of one ASD-diagnosed child were included in this study. Parents or caregivers who do not have a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were excluded from this study. The investigation into the frequency of autism within joint and nuclear families’ reveals that a majority of families with autistic children lean towards nuclear family structures. While joint families exist, they are less prevalent. The study also underlines that parental engagement is high across both family types, with over 90% actively participating in caregiving and decision-making.