RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05551728

Autism Caregiver Coaching in Africa

Sponsor

Duke University

Enrollment

320 participants

Start Date

Apr 1, 2023

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Autism or Autistic Traits

Summary

Around the world there is a growing need to develop early intervention services in local communities that support a better quality of life for all autistic people. The South African study will test an approach where caregivers are coached by non-specialists in early intervention strategies. Caregivers can then use these strategies during everyday activities with their young autistic child.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 MonthsMax Age: 72 Months

Inclusion Criteria6

Child's age is 18-72 months
Child meets DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), informed by Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2)
Child's caregiver speaks isiXhosa, isiZulu, Afrikaans, or English
Child's race is African or Coloured (South African term for mixed race)
Caregiver-child dyad live in recruitment area
Caregiver is ≥18 years

Exclusion Criteria5

Genetic disorder of known etiology (e.g., fragile X syndrome)
Significant sensory or motor impairment that would preclude use of the play materials
Major physical abnormalities that would interfere with participation in the intervention
History of serious head injury and/or neurological disease
Caregiver indicates they will be unable to attend assessments and 12 sessions

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALESDM-informed caregiver coaching

The coaching intervention is informed by the Community-Early Start Denver Model (C-ESDM). The intervention has been adapted for the South African context. Training procedures have been adapted for delivery by non-specialist coaches. Twelve session-specific visuals with simple-text (for caregivers) and session scripts (for non-specialist coaches) have been developed. Over 12, 1-hour caregiver coaching sessions that are delivered by non-specialists, caregivers are coached in strategies to increase child attention to their social world, increase child communication, create and build joint activity routines, and understand and use the ABCs to support the development of new behaviors.