Autism services in low-resource areas

Article Figures & Data

Table 1

- Parental demographics of ASD and GDD Groups.

Demographics	Autism	GDD
Demographics	n (%)	n (%)
Age of parents Father
20-29	5 (1.8)	6 (2.3)
30-39	113 (41.2)	108 (42)
40-49	121 (44.2)	117 (45.5)
≥50	30 (10.9)	22 (8.6)
Deceased	5 (1.8)	4 (1.6)
Mother
20-29	34 (12.4)	47 (18.3)
30-39	160 (58.4)	144 (56)
40-49	75 (27.4)	59 (23)
≥50	4 (1.5)	5 (1.9)
Deceased	1 (0.4)	2 (0.8)
Level of education Less than high school
Father	43 (15.8)	65 (25.3)
Mother	29 (10.6)	42(16.3)
High school or above
Father	231 (84.3)	192 (74.7)
Mother	245 (89.4)	215 (83.7)
Monthly family income
100-300 JD	51 (18.8)	81 (31.5)
301-500 JD	157 (57.29)	130 (50.6)
> 500 JD	66 (24.3)	46 (17.9)
ASD -Autism spectrum disorder, GDD - global developmental delay

Table 2

- Overview of Services.

Overview of services	Autism	GDD	P-values
Overview of services	n (%)
Total number of children included in the study	274	257
Average age at first session for those who attended	3.9	3.7	0.798
Total number of centres tried by parents
Average	1.65	1.65	0.729
Range	(1-6)	(1-10)
Type of services received
Physiotherapy	18 (6.6)	103 (40.1)	0.000
Speech therapy	177 (64.6)	87 (33.9)	0.000
Occupational therapy	37 (13.5)	59 (23)	0.005
Communication/behavioral therapy	182 (66.4)	61 (23.7)	0.000
Degree of parental satisfaction: satisfied or very satisfied
Physiotherapy	11 (61.1)	62 (60.2)	0.000
Speech therapy	87 (49.1)	55 (63.2)	0.000
Occupational therapy	20 (54)	36 (61.0)	0.089
Communication /behavioral therapy	97 (53.2)	40 (65.6)	0.000
Parent believes their child may go to school if they attend rehabilitation services
Yes	103 (37.6)	104 (40.5)	0.041
No	158 (57.7)	141 (54.9)
Don’t know	13 (4.7)	12 (4.7)
Barriers to services
Cost	138 (58)	172 (72)	0.001
Distance /transportation	88 (37.5)	110 (46)	0.045
Not helpful	75 (31.5)	51 (21.3)	0.012
Parents are trained to provide services	7 (2.9)	10 (4.2)	0.464
Preferred location of services
Home	37 (13.5)	48 (18.8)	0.10
Specialized center	198 (72.3)	181 (70.7)	0.691
Online courses	1 (0.4)	3 (1.2)	0.283
Hospital	14 (5.1)	11 (4.3)	0.659
Receive training to provide services themselves	21 (7.7)	30 (11.7)	0.114

Table 3

- Details of services for children with ASD.

Details of services	Physiotherapy	Occupational therapy	Speech therapy	Behavioral therapy
Number of children receiving service	18 (6.6)	37 (13.5)	177 (64.6)	182 (66.4)
Age at first session
Average	3.8	3.7	4.0	4.0
Range	(0.25-9)	(1.25-9)	(1.25-9)	(1.25-9)
Average weekly hours	3.6	3.1	6.25	6.64
Type of treatment center
Public autism center	0	0	2 (1.1)	1 (0.5)
Public developmental delay center	4 (22.2)	1 (2.7)	6 (3.4)	2 (1.1)
Private autism center	8 (44.2)	18 (48.6)	65 (36.7)	67 (36.8)
Private developmental delay center	4 (22.2)	13 (35.1)	81 (45.8)	86 (47.3)
Home	2 (11.1)	4 (10.8)	8 (4.5)	10 (5.5)
School	0	1 (2.7)	10 (5.6)	11 (6)
Other	0	0	5 (2.8)	5 (2.7)
Average monthly cost
Jordanian dinar	99.50	113.50	107	113.74
(US dollar)	(140.3)	(160)	(151)	(160.4)
Distance from home to center in minutes
< 15 min	4 (22.2)	12 (32.4)	33 (18.7)	34 (18.9)
15-30 min	9 (50)	19 (51.4)	100 (56.4)	103 (56.5)
30-60 min	4 (22.2)	6 (16.2)	34 (19.3)	35 (19.4)
> 60 min	1 (5.6)	0	10 (5.7)	10 (5.6)
Degree of parental satisfaction: satisfied or very satisfied	11 (61.1)	20 (54)	87 (49.1)	97 (53.2)