Preschool Teachers Attitude Towards Inclusive Education for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders in Public Schools, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2024. Multicenter Cross Sectional Study

Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily impacting social communication and behavior. The prevalence of ASD has been rapidly increasing, leading to a corresponding rise in the number of children with ASD attending mainstream schools. Preschool and primary school teachers have a vital role in identifying and supporting these children. However, the extent of teachers' Attitude towards including children with ASD in their classrooms remains uncertain. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitude towards including children with autism spectrum disorders in their classrooms, and associated factors among preschool and primary school teachers in public schools in Addis Ababa. Methods and Materials: Data from preschool and primary school teachers were collected using a self-administered questionnaire between September 2023 and December 2023. The collected data were analyzed utilizing SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the findings, while bivariate binary logistic regression was utilized to examine associations between variables. Results The study findings revealed that only 35.5% of teachers had adequate knowledge, and the mean attitude score was 3.4, indicating a slight positive inclination towards inclusive education. Teachers between the ages of 20 and 25 had 90% lower knowledge compared to those above 40 years (AOR = 0.1, 95% CI = 0.48–0.7) with a p-value of 0.014. Furthermore, teachers with a positive attitude towards including students in regular classes were 72% more likely to have adequate knowledge (AOR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.1–0.6) with a p-value of < 0.001. Finally, teachers whose source of knowledge about ASD did not come from surrounding people were 2.5 times more likely to have a positive attitude (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1–6). Conclusion and recommendation The findings of this study indicate teachers displayed a generally positive attitude towards ASD. This highlights the need for increased emphasis on educational interventions aimed at enhancing attitudes towards ASD further.