Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Low-Resource Settings: Reported Experiences and Needs of Parents in Mongolia.
Mongolian parents of autistic kids face huge service gaps and heavy mom-load, but online parent training can bridge the distance.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers talked to 32 parents of autistic children in Mongolia. They asked open questions about daily life, money, and help they get. The team recorded and coded every answer to find common themes.
What they found
Every parent said services are almost gone. Travel to the capital costs more than a month’s wage. Moms carry the care load while dads work extra jobs. Parents beg for training so they can teach their kids at home.
How this fits with other research
Sutton et al. (2022) found the same five needs in Ghana: emotional, info, money, family, and formal help. The match shows the problem crosses continents.
Kehinde et al. (2023) add that in Nigeria and South Africa moms do almost all care, just like in Mongolia. The gender pattern repeats in low-resource spots.
Llanes et al. (2020) give a fix: an online PRT course raised parent fidelity and child communication. Mongolia wants parent training; this study shows it can be done cheap and remote.
Why it matters
If you serve rural or low-income families, picture Mongolia: long trips, one tired mom, zero help. Start with a free online parent-training module like Llanes et al. (2020). Track who finishes and note child gains. You cut waitlists and give moms real tools tonight.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Although it is well-documented that families of children with autism in developed nations report hardships, few researchers have focused on families who live in less-developed, low-resource settings. Using five focus groups with 30 parents of children with autism in Mongolia, a low- resource setting, the purpose of this study was to provide detailed accounts of their experiences, challenges, and needs. Participants reported severe challenges related to raising their children with autism in their country. Parents shared barriers related to the limited availability of services and support, exacerbated financial burdens, and a lack of enforcement of relevant laws. Parents also shared their perceived needs including more services for their children, more sustainable training and coaching programs for parents, and parents' collective advocacy.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2021 · doi:10.1177/1468794107076023