Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Sep-Oct;69(5):6905185010p1-11.
doi: 10.5014/ajot.2015.017848.

Caregiving Experiences of Latino Families With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Erna Imperatore Blanche  1 , Jesus Diaz  2 , Tanya Barretto  3 , Sharon A Cermak  4
Affiliations

Caregiving Experiences of Latino Families With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Erna Imperatore Blanche et al. Am J Occup Ther. 2015 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Objective: Prior research has documented caregiving difficulties in families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, Latino families may encounter unique challenges. The purpose of this study was to understand the caregiving experiences of Latino families with children with ASD, including daily activities, coping strategies, and service utilization.

Method: Fifteen Latino parents of children with ASD were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed for analysis to identify themes of experiences unique to this population.

Results: Latino families of children with ASD encounter many similar issues as non-Latino families but also unique issues that affect service utilization. Four themes were identified: dealing with the diagnosis, dealing with stigma and isolation from family and community, understanding the role of mothers in changing family routines, and utilizing services.

Conclusion: To meet the unique needs of Latino families, services need to be provided in culturally sensitive context that address children's needs within family units.

PubMed Disclaimer