Awareness and Knowledge Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders Among University Students in Zambia

Experiences with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in sub-Saharan Africa are characterized with lots of uncertainty, including lack of awareness and knowledge. This study examined ASD awareness and knowledge among 488 University of Zambia undergraduate students using an autism awareness and knowledge survey. Study findings on awareness revealed a high proportion of students—seventy-nine percent (79%) had never heard of ASD before the survey. Significant variation in aspects of ASD knowledge was explained by gender, having children, internet use and school of study. Implications of low levels of ASD awareness and knowledge is a call to invest in ASD awareness campaigns through different platforms in order to promote ASD knowledge that translates into increased ASD understanding for better service provision in Zambia.