Public awareness and stigma of autism spectrum disorder in Iran; An online survey

Abstract

Background: There is no systematic examination of the Iranian general population's knowledge of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Aim: In this study, we aimed to assess stigma and knowledge about ASD among Iranian people and determine the sociodemographic factors associated with them.

Methods and procedures: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional online survey from April to May 2020, using a convenience sampling method. We designed an online questionnaire using Google forms. We sent a message explaining the study goals and the link to the online questionnaire to groups on popular social platforms in Iran. We used Autism Stigma and Knowledge Questionnaire (ASK-Q) to assess ASD knowledge and stigma.

Outcomes and results: In total, 600 individuals participated in the study, of whom 301 (50.2 %) were women and 299 (49.8 %) were men. Out of 600 participants, 216 (36 %) had adequate knowledge of the diagnosis/symptoms subscale, 206 (34.3 %) for the etiology subscale, 200 (33.3 %) for the treatment subscale, and 260 (43.4 %) had no stigma toward ASD.

Conclusions and implications: The level of knowledge about ASD is insufficient among Iranian people of this study. People with lower knowledge of ASD, including older adults and individuals with lower educational levels, may benefit the most from ASD awareness interventions.

Keywords: Attitude; Disability; Neurodevelopmental disorder; Neurodiversity.