Manejo familiar da criança com transtorno do espectro do autismo

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a syndrome that compromises cognitive development and social interactions. The parents and family of the child with a diagnosis of ASD are faced with a new situation in which a family adjustment is required, since these have changes in development and difficulty in interpersonal relationships, requiring differentiated care. In this perspective, this study aims to: characterize children with autism spectrum disorders treated at a rehabilitation center and their families regarding their socioeconomic conditions, family structure and dependence on activities of daily living; to measure the family management of children with ASD; to correlate family management with socioeconomic conditions, family structure and dependence on activities of daily living. This is a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, performed with twenty families of children with ASD accompanied at the Rehabilitation Center of the municipality of Sobral-CE during the months of December 2016 to March 2017. For collection data were used the instruments of Family Status and the Family Management Measure. Data were organized in spreadsheets in Microsoft® Excel 2007 and analyzed using descriptive statistics techniques, with frequency distribution and measures expressed as mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values, and Pearson and Spearman statistical tests for correlation of variables . Values ​​of p≤0.05 were considered statistically significant. All the ethical aspects of the research were safeguarded. The results showed that all participants in the study were female, and 19 of them were the mothers of the children. It was shown that 13 children were males, they were 5.7 years old and 18 of them attended school and 14 were enrolled in the public school system. Of the families, 13 had nuclear arrangements, 11 lived in their own home, with an average of 4 residents per household. The per capita income for 14 of the families was of half a minimum salary and 9 of these did not receive any social benefit. As for schooling, 11 of the mothers reported having high school and 13 were unemployed. After the diagnosis of ASD in 7 of the families, some member stopped working. Of the children, 19 had dependence on ADLs, being the hygiene, the biggest deficit evidenced in 17 of these. Eight children present dependence in 04 of the investigated activities. The family management measure allowed the identification of the family's incorporation of autism spectrum disorder into their family dynamics, analyzing this context in six dimensions: child identity, management ability, management effort, family difficulty, mutual parenting and vision the impact of the disease. The variables negatively correlated with family management were: families composed of members aged 20-39 years and 40-59 years; per capita income; the mother's schooling; the time of perception of the disease. The only positive association found was between the family management and the families that have in their constitution members from 40 to 59 years of age. The application of theoretical models of family assessment has made it possible to understand the experience of family management in the context of ASD by providing information that can be used to plan interventions that promote the development of families and their individual members.