Global Pediatrics · Published 2026-07-15 · DOI 10.1016/j.gpeds.2026.100363
Manasa Swaminathan, Priyanka N. Kuhite, Archana B. Patel, Samreen S. Khan, Mahesh Goel, Rebecca McNally Keehn
Studies of autism among Indians in India and the United States (US) are few due in part to limited research funding and infrastructure, culture-specific neurodevelopmental expertise, and disability stigma. Consequently, progress in early autism identification and development of standard care pathways has been limited in these populations and regions. The objective of the present study is to compare autism knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) across multiple community partners —clinicians, teachers, and caregivers living in both India and the US —to collaboratively understand the structural and cultural viewpoints contributing to autism identification and care uptake in both ethnocultural communities. Twenty-three semi-structured interviews (n = 13 India; n = 10 US) were conducted and manually coded using inductive thematic analysis. Shaped by evolving parenting styles, data revealed that participants in both settings experienced disability stigma, inadequate community and familial support, and limited parental knowledge. These shared cultural challenges were further mediated by contextual differences in available services and care pathways, including the absence of special education in mainstream schools in India and the impact of acculturative pressures in the United States. Overall, findings suggest that Indian families of autistic children across both contexts experience more shared challenges than differences, emphasizing the value of bidirectional knowledge exchange to build mutually beneficial autism care solutions. Future research should focus on autism awareness programs, teacher and clinician training, and implementation of standardized diagnostic pathways.
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Swaminathan, M., Kuhite, P., Patel, A., et al. (2026). Neurodevelopment beyond borders: a qualitative understanding of autism knowledge, attitudes, and practices across Indian communities in India and the United States. Global Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gpeds.2026.100363