Autism is currently the fastest - growing neurodevelopmental disorder worldwide. In recent years, Kazakhstan has been actively developing and implementing programs for early diagnosis and correctional support for children with autism. Centers assisting children with autism have been established, and since 2022, autism screening has been introduced as part of the primary health care (PHC) system [1]. However, no studies have yet been conducted to assess the level of autism awareness among PHC physicians. Therefore, it is highly relevant to examine the awareness of PHC physicians in Almaty-the largest metropolis in Kazakhstan and a key center for providing psychological, medical, and pedagogical support to children with disabilities. It is of paramount importance that primary health care (PHC) physicians not only possess primary screening skills but also maintain a clear orientation within the regional infrastructure of psychological and pedagogical assistance. Timely risk identification represents only the initial stage; the efficacy of early intervention is directly contingent upon the physician's ability to promptly refer families to specialized educational organizations and correctional centers. In the context of Almaty, which hosts a high concentration of leading Psychological-Medical-Pedagogical Consultations (PMPC) and Rooms of Psychological-Pedagogical Correction (RPPC), physicians' understanding of patient referral pathways becomes a decisive factor. Insufficient awareness among medical professionals regarding available pedagogical resources creates barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration, thereby delaying the initiation of correctional work during the child's most sensitive developmental period. Consequently, assessing physicians' knowledge of the comprehensive support system's capabilities will allow for the optimization of the transition from medical diagnosis to psychological and pedagogical rehabilitation, ensuring the continuity and integrity of support for children with autism.
Objective. To evaluate the professional awareness of primary health care physicians in Almaty regarding the etiology, diagnosis, and referral pathways for children with autism, and to identify barriers hindering the timely initiation of psycho-pedagogical support