Awareness and Knowledge About Autism Among ASHA Workers: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Early identification and management are associated with better outcomes for individuals with autism. However, the limited awareness of autism among frontline healthcare workers has led to delays in referrals and diagnoses. This study aims to assess awareness and knowledge about autism among Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 103 ASHA workers in Udupi district, Karnataka, India. A semi-structured assessment was used to collect socio-demographic information and assess basic awareness of autism. Knowledge of autism signs and symptoms was evaluated using items from the Indian Autism Screening Questionnaire (IASQ), which was modified for the study. Results: Among the participants, 70.5% categorized autism as a mental illness. Additionally, 58.8% identified the earliest age for autism diagnosis as 03 years. Furthermore, 68.2% knew that children with autism require medication alongside other treatment modalities, such as counseling, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. Compared with those without such experience, ASHA workers with prior experience attending lectures on developmental disorders had greater knowledge of identifying symptoms of autism, including social communication deficits and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and interest. Three percent of the participants reported no knowledge of autism symptoms. Conclusion: This study revealed that ASHA workers had limited awareness and knowledge regarding autism, including its symptoms, course, and management. These findings suggest the need for more specific awareness-building programs in addition to existing training programs available for ASHA workers, which might help with the early identification and referral of children with autism for early psychosocial intervention.