23 Immigrant parents’ satisfaction with early interventions for autism in Norway: explorative study

Abstract PTH 4: Mental Health and Refugees 2, B307 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 14:00 - 14:48 Background Children of immigrants in Norway have a higher risk of being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) compared to non-immigrant children. However, certain immigrant groups may?receive a late diagnosis, which results in missed opportunities for beneficial early interventions. The objective of this study was to?explore parents’ experiences with the autism diagnostic process?and assess their satisfaction with the subsequent interventions. Methods We conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 15 immigrant parents of children with autism residing in various cities across Norway. Study information was disseminated through social media platforms, specifically Facebook, in both Somali and Tigrinya languages. Nine participants reached out to the researcher to express their willingness to participate, while the remaining six participants were recruited through snowball sampling. The interviews were carried out in Somali for Somali participants and in Tigrinya for Eritrean participants. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim by the interviewer and research assistant. Data analysis was performed using thematic analysis. Results Five key themes emerged from the interviews: parents’ perceptions of early intervention; the intervention’s impact on the child’s situation; the intervention in relation to family expectations; parents’ partnerships with service providers; and issues surrounding late diagnosis. Overall, except for one parent, most participants reported satisfaction with the interventions provided to their children. However, there was significant dissatisfaction regarding diagnostic services. Conclusions Prolonged waiting times for an autism diagnosis can be a substantial source of stress and anxiety for parents, and it hinders timely entry into intervention programs for the child. Therefore, parents’ concerns about their child’s development should be promptly and effectively?addressed. Further research is necessary to assess the?satisfaction?of parents with low levels of education and those who are not proficient in the Norwegian language with the interventions.