The Burden of Autism on Caregivers: A Snapshot From the State of Qatar

Abstract Background: Caring for a child diagnosed with autism is strongly linked to maternal caregiving burden. It forces family members to modify their daily lives to suit their different reality and it imposes social, psychological, and economical hardships. No previous research has assessed the burden associated with caring for a child with autism on the lives of caregivers in Qatar or the Gulf country region. Objective: To assess the burden of autism on the lives of caregivers of children with autism in Qatar. Methods: Two groups of caregivers of children between 3 to 17 years old were recruited. The caregivers of children with autism (Autistic Group, or AG) were recruited from two developmental pediatric and children rehabilitation clinics in Qatar. The caregivers of typically-growing children (Non-Autistic Group, or NAG) were recruited during their visit for a family clinic of a primary health care facility for routine medical check-up. Data collected from both groups included demographic informatio...