Latino Parents' Perspectives on Barriers to Autism Diagnosis

Katharine E. Zuckerman, Brianna Sinche, Angie P Mejia, Martiza Cobian, Thomas Becker, Christina Nicolaidis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

186 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective Latino children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) at older ages and at the point of more severe symptoms. We sought to qualitatively describe community, family, and health care system barriers to ASD diagnosis in Latino children. Methods Five focus groups and 4 qualitative interviews were conducted with 33 parents of Latino children previously diagnosed with an ASD. Participants described Latino community perceptions of autism and barriers they experienced during the diagnostic process. Sessions were audiorecorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded by 2 researchers, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Parents reported low levels of ASD information and high levels of mental health and disability stigma in the Latino community. Parents had poor access to care as a result of poverty, limited English proficiency, and lack of empowerment to take advantage of services. Providers sometimes dismissed parents' concerns. The ASD diagnostic process itself was slow, inconvenient, confusing, and uncomfortable for the child. These factors led many parents to normalize their child's early behaviors, deny that a problem existed, and lose trust in the medical system. Conclusions Additional educational outreach to Latino families, destigmatization of ASD, streamlining the ASD diagnostic process, and providing additional support to Latino parents of at-risk children may decrease delays in ASD diagnosis among Latino children.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)301-308
Number of pages8
JournalAcademic Pediatrics
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge Drs Ellen Lipstein and Somnath Saha for their guidance regarding qualitative methods; Dr Christina Bethell for material support; Teresa Gomez and the OHSU Autism Clinic staff for help in recruitment; and Susie Larios and Eréndira Valdivia for their helpful perspectives and assistance with data analysis. Funded by grant 1K23MH095828 from the National Institute of Mental Health (PI = Zuckerman); partially funded by an Academic Pediatric Association/Commonwealth Fund Young Investigator Award (PI = Zuckerman).

Keywords

  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Hispanic Americans
  • delayed diagnosis
  • health ses accessibility
  • qualitative research

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