Abstract
The present study was undertaken at District Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan in order to assess the knowledge and perceptions of schools teacher regarding autistics, in public and private schools. This cross sectional study was conducted through purposive sampling among 240 teachers using self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was having questions for investigating teachers' knowledge and perception about autism. The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS (Version 20). The results of the present study showed that 47.5% (114) teachers know about autism through media (64.04% (73) through print media and 35.96% (41) through electronic media) while 8.75% (21) teachers know of it through trainings. Of the total 17.50% (21) public and 10.83% (13) private schools' teacher were of the opinion that autism is curable. A major portion, 42.92% (103) of the recruited teachers (46.67% (56) public and 39.17% (47) private schools' teachers) said that there should be separate schools for autistics while 57.08% (137) of the total teachers (60.83% (73) public and 53.33% (64) private schools' teachers) were of the opinion that managing autistics comes with prior training. The current study concluded that there is a lack of awareness regarding autism among teachers from both the sectors, yet public schools' teachers were better aware. School implemented proper training, workshops and seminars are suggested to train teachers for autism diagnosis and teaching autistics accordingly.
Highlights
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by impaired communication both verbal and nonverbal, impaired social interface, repetitive and restricted behavioral pattern [1]
Drug use during pregnancy is identified as one of the risk factors, such as a study showed that during pregnancy use of valproic acid let to autism in neonates [8]
Current preliminary study was conducted at district Lower Dir Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan in order to investigate the teachers’ awareness level regarding autism as they are the captains of the ships guiding students for future life and making them capable of leading out their potentialities for controlling their environment
Summary
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by impaired communication both verbal and nonverbal, impaired social interface, repetitive and restricted behavioral pattern [1]. This life lasting condition initiates at birth or in between two and a half years of age. Current preliminary study was conducted at district Lower Dir Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan in order to investigate the teachers’ awareness level regarding autism as they are the captains of the ships guiding students for future life and making them capable of leading out their potentialities for controlling their environment.
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