scholarly journals The Use of Psychotropic Medication in Iranian Children with Developmental Disabilities

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4120
Author(s):  
Roy McConkey ◽  
Sayyed Ali Samadi ◽  
Ameneh Mahmoodizadeh ◽  
Laurence Taggart
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Psychotropic Medication ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Developmental Needs ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Iranian Children ◽  
Children With Developmental Disabilities

The use of psychotropic medication in children is increasing worldwide. Children with developmental disabilities seem to be prescribed these medications at a higher rate compared to their non-disabled peers. Little is known about prescribing in non-Western, middle-income studies. In Iran, the file records of 1133 children, aged 2 to 17 years, assessed as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or an intellectual disability (ID) in Tehran City and Province from 2005 to 2019 were collated, and information from parental reports of medications was extracted. Upwards of 80% of children with ASD and 56% of those with ID were prescribed a psychotropic medication with around one quarter in each group taking two or more medications. The rates were higher among male children showing difficult-to-manage behaviors such as hyperactivity, but less so for children of fathers with higher levels of education. The lack of alternative management strategies may be a significant driver for the use of psychotropic medications in Iran and other Low and Middle Income countries, despite their known side effects, and their failure to address the developmental needs of the children. Rather, multi-disciplinary, behavioral, therapeutic, and educational interventions are required, but these are not available widely in Iran, although a start has been made.

scholarly journals The importance of context in early autism intervention: A qualitative South African study

Autism ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1005-1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessy Guler ◽  
Petrus J de Vries ◽  
Noleen Seris ◽  
Nokuthula Shabalala ◽  
Lauren Franz
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
South African ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Treatment Type ◽  
Low And Middle Income

The majority of individuals with autism spectrum disorder live in low- and middle-income countries and receive little or no services from health or social care systems. The development and validation of autism spectrum disorder interventions has almost exclusively occurred in high-income countries, leaving many unanswered questions regarding what contextual factors would need to be considered to ensure the effectiveness of interventions in low- and middle-income countries. This study qualitatively explored contextual factors relevant to the adaptation of a caregiver-mediated early autism spectrum disorder intervention in a low-resource South African setting. We conducted four focus groups and four in-depth interviews with 28 caregivers of young children with autism spectrum disorder and used thematic analysis to identify key themes. Eight contextual factors including culture, language, location of treatment, cost of treatment, type of service provider, support, parenting practices, and stigma emerged as important. Caregivers reported a preference for an affordable, in-home, individualized early autism spectrum disorder intervention, where they have an active voice in shaping treatment goals. Distrust of community-based health workers and challenges associated with autism spectrum disorder-related stigma were identified. Recommendations that integrate caregiver preferences with the development of a low-cost and scalable caregiver-mediated early autism spectrum disorder intervention are included.

scholarly journals Early screening and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in Vietnam: A population-based cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Thi Vui ◽  
Duong Minh Duc ◽  
Nguyen Thuy Quynh ◽  
Nguyen Thi Huong Giang ◽  
Vu Thi Thanh Mai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Background: Early detection of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is essential given the under-reported cases in low- and middle-income countries. This first national representative survey was conducted to explore the prevalence of ASDs amongst 18 and 30 months in seven provinces in Vietnam.Design and Method: During 2017- 2018, a national cross-sectional and population-based survey for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) amongst 40,243 children aged 18 to 30 months was conducted in 7 provinces representing the socio-economic regions of Vietnam. M-CHAT was used to screen children and then confirmed by diagnostic assessment using DSM-IV criteria.Results: The prevalence of ASDs amongst children aged 18 and 30 months in Vietnam was high (0.758% or 1 in 132 children). Urban setting, male gender, and hereditable genes were associated with ASD prevalence.Conclusion: ASDs amongst children aged 18 and 30 months in Vietnam tend to be increasing and are similar to this rate in other middle-income countries but lower than that in Western countries. This under-recognized public health problem amongst children should be addressed by early detection and intervention for families with affected children.

scholarly journals Chemical and Biological Components of Urban Aerosols in Africa: Current Status and Knowledge Gaps

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Egide Kalisa ◽  
Stephen Archer ◽  
Edward Nagato ◽  
Elias Bizuru ◽  
Kevin Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
World Health ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Nitro Derivatives ◽  
Health Organization

Aerosolized particulate matter (PM) is a complex mixture that has been recognized as the greatest cause of premature human mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Its toxicity arises largely from its chemical and biological components. These include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their nitro-derivatives (NPAHs) as well as microorganisms. In Africa, fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning in urban settings are the major sources of human exposure to PM, yet data on the role of aerosols in disease association in Africa remains scarce. This review is the first to examine studies conducted in Africa on both PAHs/NPAHs and airborne microorganisms associated with PM. These studies demonstrate that PM exposure in Africa exceeds World Health Organization (WHO) safety limits and carcinogenic PAHs/NPAHs and pathogenic microorganisms are the major components of PM aerosols. The health impacts of PAHs/NPAHs and airborne microbial loadings in PM are reviewed. This will be important for future epidemiological evaluations and may contribute to the development of effective management strategies to improve ambient air quality in the African continent.

Parent-targeted postnatal educational interventions in low and middle-income countries: A scoping review and critical analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
pp. 60-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine Dol ◽  
Marsha Campbell-Yeo ◽  
Gail Tomblin Murphy ◽  
Megan Aston ◽  
Douglas McMillan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals Children with Developmental Disabilities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: More Neglected and Physically Punished

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (19) ◽  
pp. 7009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Bizzego ◽  
Mengyu Lim ◽  
Greta Schiavon ◽  
Gianluca Esposito
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Large N ◽  
Research Bias ◽  
Quality Of Childcare ◽  
Developmental Conditions ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Little is known about parenting in the context of developmental disabilities in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), penalized by both lack of data and a research bias toward western societies. In this study, we apply data mining methods on a large (N = 25,048) dataset from UNICEF to highlight patterns of association between developmental disabilities of children and parental involvement. We focus on the co-presence of multiple disabilities and the quality of childcare in three parenting domains: discipline, caregiving, and education. Our results show that, in LMIC, children with more severe developmental conditions are also more likely to receive low-quality parental care. Specific policies of parental training are needed to improve parental practices in LMIC.

scholarly journals Participation of young children with developmental disabilities: parental needs and strategies, a qualitative thematic analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e042732
Author(s):  
Marieke Coussens ◽  
Floris Vitse ◽  
Annemie Desoete ◽  
Guy Vanderstraeten ◽  
Hilde Van Waelvelde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Developmental Coordination Disorder ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Community Activities ◽  
Qualitative Thematic Analysis ◽  
Parental Strategies ◽  
Children With Developmental Disabilities

ObjectivesParticipation refers to a person’s involvement in activities and roles that provide interaction with others as well as engagement in family and community activities. Young children with developmental disabilities (DD) such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder, autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder are limited in their participation compared with their typically developing peers. This study aimed to obtain information regarding parental needs and strategies used to enable their child’s participation.DesignA thematic inductive approach with in-depth interviews was used to explore parental experiences. Eleven women and two men, between 30 and 40 years of age, who had a child (4–9 years old) with a DD diagnosis based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria, participated in semistructured interviews.ResultsTwo central themes emerged: parental needs and parental strategies used to enable their child’s participation. Parental needs were the following: increasing awareness, ameliorating parental burden, providing tailored interventions and supporting parents in finding suitable leisure activities. Parental strategies aimed at increasing their child’s resiliency, attaining maximal fit between activity requirements and child capacity, and creating inclusive opportunities and awareness.ConclusionsUnderstanding what families’ needs are and how families use and integrate strategies within the context of their daily lives provides practitioners with insights needed to support families’ resiliency in promoting their children’s participation. The results have implications for professionals as this information can be used to inform, refine, or tailor participation-based and family-centred services.

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