الفهرس 
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Abstract
Autism is a syndrome encompassing several impairment features in three main areas: social interaction, communication and restricted interests, and repetitive and stereotypic activities. Autism is not a disease but a syndrome with multiple causes, both genetic and non-genetic (APA, 2000 & Matson, 2007and CDC, 2009).
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) is a lifelong disability. It therefore requires continuous treatment and education in residential settings. Caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASDs) have experience of mental illnesses and stress at a greater rate than the general population. Thus supporting the family and ensuring its emotional and physical health is an extremely important aspect of overall management of ASDs (Rozga et al., 2011).
The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of a parent-focused intervention for autistic children on parenting stress at Assiut city.
The present study was Quasi-experimental research design. It was conducted in all autism centers at Assiut city which includes 7 centers namely; Mental abilities clinic, Al-saad center, Social Rehabilitation Association, Women’s Association, Kian Association, The future center, and Awladna center.
The study included all parents (mothers and fathers) of Autistic children aged from 3 to 17 years have willing to participate in the study from the previous mention setting. The total numbers of parents were 73 who agree to participate in this study selected by convenient sample and these numbers included 47 mothers and 26 fathers.
Summary
156
There are five tools used in this study:- Tool one: a structured interview sheet which included that; socio demographic characteristics, such as family history, obstetric history of mother for the autistic child, previous history of the child etc. Tool two: parents’ knowledge assessment about autism which included that; definition of autism, different name for it, age at appearance of symptoms, gender distribution, categories of impairment for autism etc. Tool three: included Parenting Stress Scale. tool four: this included scale for measuring social relation for autistic child. The scale was divided into two parts: Part one: social relation scale for children aged from 3 to 6 year. Part two: The Autism Social Skills Profile for children between the ages of 6 and 17.
Tools two and three were done three times for the same parent, the first time before intervention, the second time immediately after intervention and the third time after three months from intervention while tool four was done two times for the children, the first time before intervention and the second time after three months from intervention.
And finally Tool five: included the educational program conducted in one year (starting from first April 2011 until the end of April 2012). Pretest was used before the implementing the educational program to assess the parents’ knowledge and Parenting stress. This program continued for seven days to complete the program content for each group. The total numbers of sessions was (11); each day one or two session was to be given according to the planned course. Evaluation of the educational program was carried out through post test and follow-up by repeating the same format of the pre test to determine the effect the implemented the program. Post test done immediately after implementing the program and finally, follow up test done after 3 months from the program.
Summary
157
The main results of the present study:
Male represent a higher prevalence (72.3%) rate of autism than females (27.7%)
Autistic child were more prevalent among families living in urban areas (80.9%) than rural (19.1%).
More than one quarter (29.8%) of studied children diagnosed at first and third year of life.
As for the educational levels of the fathers and mothers of autistic child, 63.8% of the fathers and 61.7% of the mothers had university level.
The majority (85.1%) of autistic parents’ children hadn’t consanguinity degree while only (14.9%) from them had consanguinity from first degree (cousin).
The present study found that the vast majorities (97.9%) of studied children haven’t family history of autism.
According to obstetrical history; the present study found that all mothers of studied children hadn’t any history of rubella, diabetes, thyroid and infectious diseases while only (4.3%) were exposed to eclampsia.
The majorities (85.1%) of studied children haven’t another disability or congenital anomalies with autism but (14.9%) from them have another disability (MR, Dawn’s syndrome, and brain atrophy).
More than half (63.8%) of parents have sense of sadness or worry when people know that they have autistic child.
Summary
158
The findings indicated that there was highly statistically significant difference between mothers’ and fathers’ knowledge about autism, signs and symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment, nutrition (P-value = 0.000) in pre, immediate post test and follow-up.
The current study illustrated that; there was highly statistically significant difference between Parental stress scale for mothers and fathers in pre test and immediate post test respectively (P-value= 0.000 *& 0.002*) while no statistically significant difference between pre test and follow-up respectively (P-value= 0.152 & 0.417).
There was statistically significant difference between mother’s knowledge regarding to their education and occupation respectively (P value= 0.000*) and (P value= 0.014*) while there was no statistically significant difference between father’s knowledge education and occupation (P value =0.491)
There was no statistically significant different between parent stress for parents (mothers and fathers) regarding to their education and occupation respectively (P value =0.123&0.672) and (P value =0.969&0.611).
It has been recommended that:
Nursing staff should play a much greater role in supporting parents and providing them with important information through pediatrics clinics, Maternal and Child Health centers, and continues Health education programs should be implementing for parents about how to care and deal ideally with autistic children and they should be directed by the professional nurses to families as home caregivers and to the community in general.