Effectiveness of an Educational Program on Parental Awareness of the Nutritional Needs of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Erbil City, Iraq

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Erbil teaching Hospital, Ministry of Health, Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

2 Department of Community Nursing, College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.

10.64554/njphn.2026.192026
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition associated with food selectivity, micronutrient deficits, and gastrointestinal comorbidities. Parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices are key modifiable factors influencing dietary quality. Local evidence on educational interventions for Kurdish families is remains limited despite rising ASD prevalence in the Kurdistan Region.Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study with a non-equivalent control group was assessed a structured educational programs efficacy in improving parental dietary knowledge for children with ASD in Erbil City, Iraq. Data were collected from 5 November 2025 to 5 April 2026 across ten specialized autism centers and pediatric neurology clinics. Using purposive sampling 220 parents of children with ASD aged 4–12 years were allocated to an intervention group (n = 110) receiving nutritional education and a control group (n = 110) receiving routine care. A validated Kurdish and Arabic self- administered questionnaire was used. Data were analyzed descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, chi-square tests, and Cohen's d in IBM SPSS v26.0 (p < 0.05). Results: Groups were comparable at baseline, over 92% of parents had never received nutritional education. The intervention produced significant knowledge improvements (p < 0.001), with large effect sizes for overall awareness (d = 3.10), individualized diet therapy (d = 1.17), and correction of gluten-free/casein-free misconceptions (d = 1.17). Service-quality perceptions also improved significantly. Conclusion: The program substantially improved parental nutritional knowledge and supports integration into routine ASD services in Erbil City.

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Volume 1, Issue 1
Summer 2026

  • Receive Date 15 June 2026
  • Revise Date 04 July 2026
  • Accept Date 15 July 2026
  • First Publish Date 15 July 2026
  • Publish Date 01 August 2026