Abstract
BackgroundThere is a shortage of validated autism screening tests in the 11 official languages of South Africa. The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/FTM), a validated and well-known screening test, had already been adapted (in English) and translated into Northern Sotho for use in South Africa.ObjectivesThe aim was to collect pilot data to determine the preliminary reliability and feasibility of the two tests to confirm the equivalence of the adaptation and translation.MethodThe study was conducted in a peri-urban community in South Africa. Twenty-one first-language Northern Sotho caregivers of children aged between 18 and 48 months were recruited by employing snowball sampling. The participants were asked to complete the Northern Sotho and the culturally adapted English M-CHAT-R/F, which were presented in random order.ResultsThe preliminary content validity and equivalence were evident, with no difference at the 5% interval of the Wilcoxon signed rank test. All 21 toddlers screened presented with a low risk for autism following the recommended execution of the Follow-Up section for the toddlers in the medium risk category. All participants completed the two screening tests, with none indicating unfamiliar words or constructs. A higher preference for the English adapted version was found but a need for the Northern Sotho screening test was also evidentConclusionThe Northern Sotho translation of the M-CHAT-R/F, as well as the adapted English version, appears feasible and is ready for comprehensive validation.
Highlights
The lack of culturally appropriate screening instruments for autism has become a universal concern (Hyman, Levy, Myers, & AAP Council on Children with Disability, 2020; Malcolm-Smith et al, 2013)
Most autism screening tools are available in English only, as they derive from Englishspeaking countries (Soto et al, 2015)
Detection of developmental conditions is a high priority and advocated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), because identification at a young age may decrease the impact of impairments as it promotes early management (WHO, 2013a)
Summary
The lack of culturally appropriate screening instruments for autism has become a universal concern (Hyman, Levy, Myers, & AAP Council on Children with Disability, 2020; Malcolm-Smith et al, 2013). In an attempt to address the shortage of validated, cultural and linguistic appropriate screening tools, and amidst a worldwide steady increase in the prevalence of autism (Maenner et al, 2020), the authors had previously adapted and translated one of the most commonly used autism screening tests for use in South Africa (Vorster et al, 2021). In a multicultural and multilingual country such as South Africa, local translation and validation of autism screening tools are important (Franz et al, 2018). The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/FTM), a validated and well-known screening test, had already been adapted (in English) and translated into Northern Sotho for use in South Africa
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Schedule a callMore From: The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings
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