Background: Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) can be reliably diagnosed by 24 months of age. However, despite the well-known benefits of early intervention, there is still a research-practice gap in the timely identification of ASC, particularly in low-resourced settings. The Social Attention and Communication Surveillance (SACS) tool, which assesses behavioural markers of autism between 12 to 24 months of age, has been implemented in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) settings, with excellent psychometric properties. ASDetect is a free mobile application based on the SACS, which is designed to meet the need for an effective, evidence-based tool for parents, to learn about children’s early social-communication development and assess their child’s ‘likelihood’ for ASC. Study aims: The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of ASDetect in the early detection of children with ASC. A secondary aim is to assess ASDetect’s acceptability and parental user experience with the application. Methods: Families are recruited to download the application and participate in the study via social media, health professionals (e.g., MCH nurses, paediatricians) and word of mouth. All participating caregivers complete a demographic questionnaire, survey regarding their user experience, and the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), an autism screening questionnaire; they are also invited to participate in focus groups. Children identified at ‘high likelihood’ for ASC based on the ASDetect results, the SRS-2 or parental and/or professional concerns undergo a formal, gold-standard, diagnostic assessment. Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses will be used to assess psychometric properties of ASDetect. Thematic analyses will be used to explore themes arising in the focus groups to provide insights regarding user experiences with the app. Multiple regression analyses will be carried out to determine the extent to which demographic factors, parental stress and beliefs on health surveillance and child results on ASDetect are associated with the parental user-experience of the application. Discussion: With a strong evidence-base and global access, ASDetect has the potential to empower parents by providing them with knowledge of their child’s social-communication development, validating and reassuring any parental concerns, and supporting them in communicating with other health professionals, ultimately enhancing child and family outcomes and well-being.

Background: Mothers’ health significantly affects their well-being and that of their families. The early years of motherhood can be tough and impact mental health. This study examined the associations between mothers’ self-compassion, social support, and self-care behaviors and their physical and mental well-being. Methods: In August 2023, an online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 514 Israeli mothers with children under three. Mothers’ physical and mental health was assessed using SF12. Self-compassion was measured by the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). Social support was evaluated through the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and self-care was assessed via the Pittsburgh Enjoyable Activities Test (PEAT). Results: Respondents’ average age was 31.5 years. Their self-reported physical health was relatively high, with a mean of 78.36 (SD = 21) on a 0–100 scale (n = 442). Mental health scores were lower, with a mean of 65.88 (SD = 20.28, n = 401). Perceived physical health was higher among Jewish mothers, younger mothers, and those with higher income levels. Additionally, greater social support and self-compassion correlated with better perceived physical health (Adj R² = 0.11, p < 0.001). For mental health, higher scores were observed among Jewish mothers, younger mothers, and full-time employed mothers. Furthermore, higher social support, self-compassion, and self-care practices were associated with improved perceptions of mental health (Adj R² = 0.39, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Promoting the well-being of mothers is crucial for their health, their children’s well-being, and the family unit. Health professionals working with mothers of young children should emphasize and help promote social support, self-compassion, and self-care activities.