Tilahun et al_beliefs attitudes HEWs_Autism_in press.pdf (311.91 kB)
Ethiopian community health workers’ beliefs and attitudes towards children with autism: impact of a brief training intervention
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 11:40 authored by Dejene Tilahun, Abe WassieAbe Wassie, Betlehem Tekola, Mesfin Araya, Ilona Roth, Basiro Davey, Charlotte Hanlon, Rosa A HoekstraThere is a severe shortage of services for children with autism in Ethiopia; access to services is further impeded by negative beliefs and stigmatising attitudes towards affected children and their families. To increase access to services, care provision is decentralised through task-shifted care by community health extension workers (HEWs). This study aimed to examine the impact of a brief training (Health Education and Training; HEAT) for Ethiopian rural HEWs and comprised three groups: i) HEWs who completed a basic mental health training module (HEAT group, N=104); ii) HEWs who received enhanced training, comprising basic HEAT as well as video-based training on developmental disorders and a mental health pocket guide (HEAT+ group, N=97); iii) HEWs untrained in mental health (N=108). All participants completed a questionnaire assessing beliefs and social distance towards children with autism. Both the HEAT and HEAT+ group showed fewer negative beliefs and decreased social distance towards children with autism compared to the untrained HEW group, with the HEAT+ group outperforming the HEAT group. However, HEAT+ trained HEWs were less likely to have positive expectations about children with autism than untrained HEWs. These findings have relevance for task-sharing and scale up of autism services in low-resource settings worldwide.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
AutismISSN
1362-3613Publisher
SAGE PublicationsExternal DOI
Issue
1Volume
23Page range
39-49Department affiliated with
- Global Health and Infection Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Wellcome Trust Brighton and Sussex Centre for Global Health Research Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2018-01-18First Open Access (FOA) Date
2018-01-18First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2018-01-18Usage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedLicence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC