Help- Seeking Experiences among Burmese American Families with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Multi-Informant Qualitative Study

Burmese refugees, constituting the largest group of refugees admitted to the United States, accounting for 21% of total admissions in the past decade. Using a multi-informed perspective, this research study sought to understand the help-seeking experiences of Burmese American refugee families regarding the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. In this study, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 16 individuals, including primary caregivers (N=6), Burmese community leaders (N=4), and healthcare workers (N=6). Caregiver interviews were conducted in Burmese Chin languages by native speakers on the research team. Our results indicated caregiver burnout, linguistic limitations, cultural stigma, structural barriers in healthcare, and the importance of multicultural considerations in professional interactions collectively shape the complex landscape of help-seeking experiences among Burmese American Families with children with ASD. We provided clinical recommendations for providers and community leaders to address the five barriers found in our study.