Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the utilisation of Applied Behaviour
Analysis (ABA) as a management and educational intervention for children
with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Ghana. The qualitative case study
design with purposive and convenient sampling technique was employed to
sample 19 participants. Semi-structured interview guide was used to collect
data from participants. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The
finding revealed that ABA intervention is yielding positive impacts on the
children receiving the intervention in Ghana. It was found out that children
receiving the ABA intervention were able to perform tasks independently,
gained mastery of self-help skills, social skills, motor skills, communication
and attention. Additionally, they experience declined in challenging
behaviours. Teachers indicated that ABA had equipped them with skills to be
able to manage children with ASD. Family stress, worry and workload of
parents were reduced. The findings further revealed that acceptability of ABA
in Ghana increased among parents due to its positive results and modification
done in ABA techniques by practitioners to modify programmes to suit the
Ghanaian context. Participants also expressed satisfaction with the
appropriateness of ABA techniques used. Lack of resources and high of cost
running the intervention were found to be factors affecting the dissemination
of ABA in Ghana. The study recommended that the government of Ghana
through the Ministries of Education and Health should adopt ABA as
treatment for ASD in Ghana. Finally, it was recommended that universities
running Special Education programmes should include ABA in their training
curriculum and greater focus should also be given to research in this area.
