Assessment of Nurses Knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorder in Pediatrics Hospital in Kirkuk City

Background: Autism is a neurological disorder that affects the brain and cause of weakness in the formation of social relations, communication skills and language, and emotional and sensory development. Autism can present in all races, social status, religions and classes of people.
Objectives: The study objective is to assess the nurses knowledge level about autism spectrum disorder and to find out the relationship between nurses knowledge level about Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Methodology: A Descriptive non-experimental study, it was carried out at Pediatrics Hospital in Kirkuk City, samples include nurses who works at Pediatrics Hospital (males and females). The study samples were chosen by non-probability sampling (purposive sample). An instrument was constructed as a questionnaire for the study purpose, the questionnaire consists of (3) domains ( Information, Concepts and Facts about Autism Spectrum Disorders, Signs of impairment in social interaction and communication in children with Autism and Disorder in behavioral patterns).
Study Results: The results shows that the most of nurses at age between 20-29 years (63.1%), the highest percentage of them are females with (63.1 %), higher percentage (40 %) from total were at good level of knowledge about autism spectrum disorder, The age group between (20-29 years) were at intermediate and good levels of knowledge with percentage (43.9 %), males were most of them at good level of knowledge with (50 %) and also (50 %) of married nurses at good level of knowledge, nurses who have Bachelor education at good level of knowledge with (46.2%).
Conclusions: The study indicated that the majority of nurses at age between 20-29 years, And most of them are females, common of them married, most common of them with Diploma educational level and highest percentage of them had less than one year of employment in pediatric wards, the majority of nurses at good level of knowledge about autism spectrum disorder, the nurses who their age between (20-29 years) were at higher level of knowledge than other age groups, the males nurses' knowledge about autism spectrum disorder more than the females, Study shows that the most of nurses who married and divorced were at higher level of knowledge than unmarried nurses.
Recommendations: The study recommended more studies in same subject with larger sample size and Future studies about another concepts of autism spectrum disorder in Kirkuk Higher Health Institute and other health organizations.