Improving access to early intervention for autism: findings from a proof-of-principle cascaded task-sharing naturalistic developmental behavioural intervention in South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the high number of children living with neurodevelopmental disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa, access to early intervention is almost non-existent. It is therefore important to develop feasible, scalable early autism intervention that can be integrated into systems of care. While Naturalistic Developmental Behavioural Intervention (NDBI) has emerged as an evidence-based intervention approach, implementation gaps exist globally, and task-sharing approaches may address access gaps. In this South African proof-of-principle pilot study, we set out to answer two questions about a 12-session cascaded task-sharing NDBI-whether the approach could be delivered with fidelity, and whether we could identify signals of change in child and caregiver outcomes.

Methods

We

SUBMITTER: Rieder AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10199438 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature