scholarly journals Evaluation of the Prevalence of Childhood Autism Awareness amongst Medical Professionals in Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1356-1361
Author(s):  
N. Noor ◽  
M. Talha ◽  
S. A. Ahmad ◽  
M. Mohydin ◽  
S. S A. Shah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Childhood Autism ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Child Development Disorders

Aim: To evaluate the level of awareness regarding childhood autism among medical professionals of Pakistan. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 105 medical students and health-care professionals to estimate their knowledge regarding Autism in Pakistan. By random sampling method, questionnaires were distributed during the month of April 2020. IRB approval was obtained. Results: The results have highlighted that medical students have significant knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder while Post Graduate trainees and House Officers have moderate knowledge. However, it is alarming to see that there is lack of knowledge among Medical Officers and Consultants. Due to this deficient knowledge gap, medical practitioners are unaware of the severity of this disorder in the region. The results emphasize that there is either initial lack of medical school curriculum or over time knowledge of medical professionals decreases due to which they are unable to identify the prevalent disorders. Conclusion: ASD is a pertinent regional health concern. Lack of clinical knowledge of this disorder amongst healthcare professionals, needs to be addressed by application of awareness systems. This will improve diagnosis and redesign treatment modalities alongside strategize preventive measures. Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Medical, Student, Child Development Disorders

Early intervention of Autism Spectrum Disorder: translating research into practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Preeti Kandasamy ◽  
Harshini Manohar
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Health Care Policy ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Training Of Trainers

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, with increasing prevalence globally. Early intervention has been shown to improve the core deficits and result in a favorable outcome in children with ASD. Various interventional methods, novel mechanisms, and approaches are being widely researched. Though accelerating interventional research in ASD is observed globally, evidence from Indian setting is sparse. Given the uniqueness of cultural, socio-economic conditions, population statistics, existing health care and referral system, it is pivotal to develop and test interventional methods that are applicable and acceptable to the indigenous population. This paper reviews the currently available evidence-based treatment modalities in the Indian settings, with a specific focus on the behavioral interventions. Early diagnosis is seldom seen to translate into early intervention. In the background of the existing challenges, strategies to translate research into practice in terms of developing sustainable methods of service delivery, capacity building, training of trainers, need for liaison between experts and role of health care policy makers are discussed. Improving awareness among parents, medical professionals and stakeholders is the first step forward, towards translating research into practice.

scholarly journals Lived experiences of caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder in Kenya

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lizahn G. Cloete ◽  
Evans O. Obaigwa
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Occupational Therapy Interventions

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a global public health concern. In African countries such as Kenya, there is a greater need for establishing support services for developmental disorders such as ASD. The emotional, social and economic burden of ASD on caregivers is unknown because of a number of challenges. Citizens of Kenya have a unique view of disability and inclusion.Objectives: To explore the perspectives of caregivers who are responsible for caring for both family and children living with ASD and to highlight the needs of children with ASD as well as the needs of their caregivers.Method: A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological study utilising focus group discussions (FGDs) was conducted. Verbatim transcription was used. QSR N ’Vivo 10 was used to organise and analyse the data. Content analysis was used to identify important ideas and concepts.Results: One theme, namely ‘the burden of caring for children with ASD’, was identified. Children with ASD and their caregivers experience isolation and stigmatisation.Conclusion: Occupational therapists in Kenya should collaborate with the relevant national and global stakeholders for the promotion of the inclusion of children with ASD and their families. Responsive and context-appropriate occupational therapy interventions may begin to address service barriers.

Obesity, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder compared with typically developing peers

Autism ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M McCoy ◽  
Kristen Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Unhealthy Weight

Decreased engagement in beneficial physical activity and increased levels of sedentary behavior and unhealthy weight are a continued public health concern in adolescents. Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder may be at an increased risk compared with their typically developing peers. Weekly physical activity, sedentary behavior, and body mass index classification were compared among adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorder. Analyses included 33,865 adolescents (autism spectrum disorder, n = 1036) from the 2016–2017 National Survey of Children’s Health (United States). After adjustment for covariates, adolescents with autism spectrum disorder were found to engage in less physical activity and were more likely to be overweight and obese compared with their typically developing peers ( p’s < 0.05). As parent-reported autism spectrum disorder severity increased, the adjusted odds of being overweight and obese significantly increased and physical activity participation decreased ( p-for-trends < 0.001). The findings suggest there is a need for targeted programs to decrease unhealthy weight status and support physical activity opportunities for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder across the severity spectrum.

Associations between exposure to air pollutants and childhood autism spectrum disorder in Taiwan

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu-Yuan Wang ◽  
Ya-Yun Cheng ◽  
Shao-Wei Yang ◽  
Yen-Cheng Tseng ◽  
How-Ran Guo*
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Childhood Autism ◽  
Spectrum Disorder

scholarly journals Autism Spectrum Disorder Referrals to a Rural Hospital in the Past Two Years – A Retrospective Evaluation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-18
Author(s):  
Mert Besenek
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Psychotropic Medication ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Attention Problems ◽  
Rural Hospital ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Treatment Modalities

Objective:   In addition to the core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); symptoms such as aggression, self-harm, impulsivity, hyperactivity, anxiety, and mood problems are also often present. Medication use is frequent and studies report that 27-40% of ASD patients use at least one psychotropic medication. We aimed to examine the clinical and sociodemographic features and treatment modalities of ASD patients who were referred to a rural hospital in the last two years. Material and Methods: Age, gender, mean diagnosis age (MDA), type of ASD, psychiatric symptoms, medication (if they use one) types, and doses were recorded for 200 children with ASD (who were referred between August 2018 – August 2020) were retrospectively evaluated. Also, patients who were diagnosed with “childhood autism (CA)” and “other ASD diagnoses” were compared. Results: The majority of the patients were male, the MDA value of the all patients was 4.56 (±2.2) years and there were no significant differences between groups regarding MDA (p = 0.053). Most frequently seen psychiatric symptoms were behavioral (33%) and attention problems (21%) and 52.5% of patients (n=105) were using at least one psychotropic medication. Patients with CA had higher rates of psychotropic medication use (p=0.010) and the most frequently used medication group was antipsychotic drugs (92.4%). Conclusion: Treatment approaches utilized in rural hospitals are in line with the universal trends. However, considerably higher MDA compared to previous studies show that; to provide early diagnosis and better prognosis for ASD patients who live in rural areas, new interventions should be promoted by the local and/or general authorities.

scholarly journals Early intervention of Autism Spectrum Disorder: translating research into practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Preeti Kandasamy ◽  
Harshini Manohar
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Health Care Policy ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Training Of Trainers

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, with increasing prevalence globally. Early intervention has been shown to improve the core deficits and result in a favorable outcome in children with ASD. Various interventional methods, novel mechanisms, and approaches are being widely researched. Though accelerating interventional research in ASD is observed globally, evidence from Indian setting is sparse. Given the uniqueness of cultural, socio-economic conditions, population statistics, existing health care and referral system, it is pivotal to develop and test interventional methods that are applicable and acceptable to the indigenous population. This paper reviews the currently available evidence-based treatment modalities in the Indian settings, with a specific focus on the behavioral interventions. Early diagnosis is seldom seen to translate into early intervention. In the background of the existing challenges, strategies to translate research into practice in terms of developing sustainable methods of service delivery, capacity building, training of trainers, need for liaison between experts and role of health care policy makers are discussed. Improving awareness among parents, medical professionals and stakeholders is the first step forward, towards translating research into practice.

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