Community Support Service: The Perspective of Family Caregivers of Children with Autism in Mansoura City | ||
| International Egyptian Journal of Nursing Sciences and Research | ||
| Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2025, Pages 95-112 PDF (896.27 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejnsr.2025.421693.1464 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Heba Gad Alla Ali Abd Alla* 1; Eman Sameh Abd Elhi2; Asmaa Ahmed Abdallah1; Wafaa Hamed Kamal Elshafie1; Samia Gamal Awad Hamed3; Ahmed Rezk Abdelghafar Emara4 | ||
| 1Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt | ||
| 2Psychiatric Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing- Mansoura University, Egypt | ||
| 3Psychiatric and mental health nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt | ||
| 4Community Health Nursing,College of Nursing, Misr University for Science and Technology,Giza, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects a significant number of children globally, presenting unique challenges for families and caregivers. In Egypt, the need for robust community support services is vital for enhancing the quality of life for children with ASD and their families. Aim: This study aimed to assess the perspectives of family caregivers with autism regarding community support services. Methods: This study involved 200 family caregivers of autistic children in Mansoura City. Data were collected on the socio-demographic characteristics of caregivers and their children, Short Form 36-Health Survey, Parenting Stress Index, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Perceived Community Support Questionnaire. Results: Most caregivers (80%) were aware of community support services but faced barriers, including limited rural availability (74.5%) and accessibility challenges (58.5%), with peer parents as primary information sources. Caregivers reported moderate satisfaction, coping competence, and social support levels, with strong correlations between these factors (p ≤ 0.001). Coping competence and social support predicted caregiver satisfaction, explaining 68% of variance (F=204.3, p<0.001), while educational level significantly influenced both coping competence (p<0.001) and social support (p=0.005). Conclusion & Recommendations: Coping competence and social support significantly predict caregiver satisfaction with autism services. However, rural accessibility barriers and educational disparities limit service effectiveness. Recommendations include expanding rural service delivery, enhancing accessibility, providing targeted support based on educational needs, and strengthening peer support networks. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Autism; Caregivers; Children; Community; Family; Support Service; Perspective | ||
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