Occupational therapy services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder on the primary healthcare platform.

Introduction: The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is complex. In a low middle income country, like South Africa, early recognition of ASD rarely occurs on the primary health care (PHC) platform. To mitigate late diagnosis of ASD, which has a poorer prognosis, the purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge and clinical competencies required by inexperienced occupational therapists to improve early detection of and service delivery for children with ASD at the PHC level. Methods: A descriptive qualitative design explored the perceptions of occupational therapy experts as to the required knowledge and clinical competencies necessary for inexperienced occupational therapists to deliver services to children with ASD on the PHC platform. Thematic inductive analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings: Two themes emerged: Theme one: the perceived critical knowledge for early identification, assessment and treatment of children with ASD. Theme two: the clinical competencies required for assessment and effective treatment of children with ASD on the PHC level. Conclusion: This study identified the perceived knowledge and clinical competencies needed to improve early identification and service communitybased delivery for children with ASD on the PHC platform by early career occupational therapists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]