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

Muhammed, Runak Luqman; Surchi, Sarhang Qadir

doi:10.64554/njphn.2026.192026

	Effectiveness of an Educational Program on Parental Awareness of the Nutritional Needs of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Erbil City, Iraq
Ninevah Journal of Public Health & Nursing
Volume 1, Issue 1, August 2026
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.64554/njphn.2026.192026
Authors
Runak Luqman Muhammed^* ¹; Sarhang Qadir Surchi²
¹Department of Erbil teaching Hospital, Ministry of Health, Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
²Department of Community Nursing, College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.
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.
Keywords
Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; parental awareness; dietary requirements; educational program; quasi-experimental study; Erbil; Kurdistan Region

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