Stigma among Vietnamese parents of children with autism spectrum disorder

ObjectivesThis cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to describe perceived stigma, affiliate stigma, enacted stigma, challenging behavior, caregiving burden, and social support among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Hanoi, Vietnam.MethodsUtilizing a stratified sampling approach, the study surveyed 846 parents at the National Children's Hospital and five special education centers for children with disabilities from February to October 2023 using structured self-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics in SPSS 20.0.ResultsParents of children with ASD experienced low to moderate level of perceived stigma (1.24 +/- 0.58), moderate levels of affiliate stigma and enacted stigma (2.11 +/- 0.50 and, 1.88 +/- 0.72, respectively). Most parents reported medium or high levels of social support (98.2%). Notably, 98.1% of children exhibited at least one challenging behavioral problem, with inappropriate vocalizations and stereotypical behavior being the most common behaviors. Additionally, a substantial number of parents faced severe caregiving burdens (55.8%).ConclusionsThis study highlights the stigma experienced by parents of children with ASD, significant caregiving burdens and children's challenging behaviors. Healthcare providers can support parents by counseling on personal space, work-life balance, emotional regulation, coping skills with stigma and effectively addressing behavioral challenges, ultimately enhancing support for families of children with ASD.