title: Evaluation of a parent-based behavioral intervention program for children with autism in a low-resource setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intensive behavioral intervention programs are recommended for children with autism. However, in resource-constraint settings, such programs are largely inaccessible, and there is an urgent need for development of low-cost interventions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of a parent-based behavioral intervention program in Indian autistic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen children with autistic disorder undergoing the intervention for at least six months were enrolled. The mean development, social, expressive, and receptive language quotients, and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) scores were compared before and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average duration of therapy was 19.5±11.78 months. There was a significant improvement in the development quotient (P=0.015), social quotient (P=0.004), expressive language quotient (P=0.03), CARS (P=0.001), and ABC (P=0.014) scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parent-based behavioral intervention programs have a promising role in management of children with autism in resource-constraint settings.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Child Development Center, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Juneja
authors: Sharmila Banerjee
authors: SB
authors: Mukherjee
authors: Suvasini
authors: S
authors: Sharma
authors: Rahul
authors: R
authors: Jain
authors: Biswajit
authors: B
authors: Das
authors: Philomina
authors: P
authors: Sabu