Parenting African American Children With Autism: The Influence of Respect and Faith in Mother, Father, Single-, and Two-Parent Care

Abstract

When health care professionals increase their knowledge and understanding of cultural practices in the parental care of children with ASD, they provide health care that is culturally congruent.

Autism Disparities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Ethnography of Qualitative Research

“…African American families in this study also expressed distrust in health care equity and viewed this as an important barrier to care (Burkett et al, 2015). In this example and one other (Burkett, Morris, Anthony, Shambley-Ebron, & Manning-Courtney, 2016), various elements of African American culture—religion, approaches and meanings toward ASD symptoms, and levels of trust among health care providers—were identified as important barriers to autism diagnosis and service.…”

“…A key finding of our review is the limited focus on gender inequity, even though the majority of studies we reviewed interviewed women. One study highlights the isolation experienced by single African American women who are raising a child with autism, often with limited community support and resources (Burkett et al, 2016). While the experience of isolation is not unique among caregivers of children with autism (Woodgate, Ateah, & Secco, 2008), the added layers of being a single mother and economically disadvantaged have not been thoroughly investigated.…”

Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality: An Overview With a Historical Retrospective and a View Toward the Future

“…Leininger (2006a) added this tenet based on supporting data from published studies about resident care in culturally focused nursing homes (McFarland, 1997; McFarland & Zehnder, 2006) as well as other community settings (Leuning, Small, & van Dyk, 2002). Later studies provided further support for this tenet (Burkett et al, 2017; Chiatti, 2019; Mixer et al, 2015; Mixer, Fornehed, Varney, & Lindley, 2014; Sensor, 2018; Wolf et al, 2014).…”

“…However, Leininger asserted that culture care meanings and uses first have to be discovered in order to establish a body of transcultural knowledge. In their study findings, many transcultural nurses have discovered diversities and universalities in care themes and patterns: Burkett, Morris, Anthony, Shambley-Ebron, and Manning-Courtney (2017); Chiatti (2019); and López-Entrambasaguas, Fernández-Sola, and Granero-Molina (2015). However, more universal than diverse care themes and patterns have been discovered and reported.…”

“…This concept refers to the commonly shared or similar culture care phenomena of individuals or groups with recurrent meanings, patterns, values, lifeways, or symbols that serve as guides for caregivers to provide assistive, supportive, facilitative, or enabling care for healthy outcomes (Leininger, 2006a, 2015). In their study about parenting African American children with autism, Burkett et al (2017) discovered two universal care themes (respect and faith) and two diverse themes (mother care vs. father care).…”