An Exploration into Mothers’ Experiences of Feeding Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in South Africa

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the experiences of mothers feeding their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in South Africa as well as to better understand the impact of context and culture on feeding disorders. Participants and Methods: A qualitative research design was employed. Seven mothers of 8 children (1 mother had twins), aged 4—9 years, who were diagnosed with ASD and who had associated feeding difficulties participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data were transcribed and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Findings indicated that children with ASD and feeding difficulties increase parental stress and anxiety. Novel findings pertaining to context and culture showed the negative impact feeding difficulties have on the siblings, the role taken on by the mother as the caregiver and the provider, and an additional financial burden associated with feeding a child with ASD. Conclusions: Findings add to the field of speech therapy by providing awareness of the challenges experienced by these mothers as well as those that are unique to the South African context. In addition, the current study provides insight into the experiences of mothers from different contexts and cultural backgrounds to those reported in previous literature.