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Background Autism is a global health crisis. Among other developing countries, Bangladesh has the highest rate on prevalence of autism which ranges from 0.15%-0.84%. Several factors have been found to influence parent’s attitude towards autistic child such as lack of knowledge and understanding of autism, societal stigma, cultural belief in karma, parent’s expectations, parent’s uncertainty about child’s future, worry about child’s educational development, parent’s guilt as caregivers, hampering family relationship. Bangladesh is still lacking in knowledge and awareness of autism, thus, giving rise to negative attitude among parents towards their autistic child. The aim of the study is to understand parental attitude towards their autistic child comparing both the father and mother’s attitude and to explore the underlying factors regulating their attitude.

Methods This will be a qualitative study protocol with abductive approach following emergent design conducted with semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions among both the parents having an autistic child diagnosed for minimum 6 months, living together in Dhakaand registered on files of Center for Neurodevelopment and Autism in Children (CNAC) in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

Conclusion This study is expected to bring out deeper understanding of parental attitude towards their autistic child providing a baseline for interventions and evaluations of support programs for autistic child and their parents in Bangladesh. This study will influence for having autism support groups, autistic child-family support group, social support groups and trained social workers in public sector workers for reducing stigma of autism.