ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG CAREGIVERS OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN ATTENDING AUTISTIC CENTERS IN JEDDAH, 2020.

Aim: To assess the quality of life and identify other factors affecting the quality of life among caregivers of autistic children attending Autistic centers in Jeddah, 2020.

Method: The study was an analytic cross-sectional among the caregivers of autistic children. The questionnaire used in the study is The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-Bref.

Result: Out of 85 caregivers, 37 (43.5%) were male, 48 (56.5%) were female, 37 (43.5$) were from ae groups 26-40 and 41-60 equally. Almost two-thirds of the cases had moderate autism (degree 2),  48 (56.5%) rated their quality of life (Neither poor nor good). The mean score of the four domains were 8.8± 4.8 for physical health, 16.5± 4.5 for psychological, 8.1± 3.1 for social relationships, and 21 ± 4.7 for environment. Females, group age 26-40, married, those with higher education level, non-Saudi, and non-employee had a significant higher score in all the domains.

Conclusion: The current study results are consistent with other studies from different countries and cultures that reported that taking care of an autistic child had considerably negative impacts on the caregiver's QOL, where caregivers of children with ASD have poorer QOL due to the physical, social, emotional, and financial burdens in providing good care to a child with a disability.

Key words: Quality of Life, Caregivers Of Autistic Children, Autistic Centers,  Jeddah