Exploring knowledge of autism, its causes and treatment among immigrant and nonimmigrant parents in Somalia\Somaliland
Abstract Background The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has increased over the recent years; however, little is known about the experience of parents of children with autism in Africa such as Somalia. The aim of this study is to understand the knowledge on autism of Somali parents of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00713-3 |
| _version_ | 1797275840930643968 |
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| author | Hodan A. Duale Abdi Gele |
| author_facet | Hodan A. Duale Abdi Gele |
| author_sort | Hodan A. Duale |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has increased over the recent years; however, little is known about the experience of parents of children with autism in Africa such as Somalia. The aim of this study is to understand the knowledge on autism of Somali parents of children with autism and their perceptions of causes and treatment of ASD. Methods We conducted a qualitative study involving 22 parents of children with autism who lived in Mogadishu and Hargeisa; the two largest cities in Somalia. In-depth interviews were used to collect the data. Of the 22 participants, 9 were returned immigrants and 13 were local people (non-immigrants). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results The data revealed that most of the parents hold the belief that their children’s autism were caused by the measles vaccine. The findings demonstrated that parents sought diagnosis and treatment care from outside Somalia due to the lack of experience of health providers in the diagnosis and treatment of autism. The data also revealed a lack of knowledge about autism among the public with resultant stigma and discrimination against children with autism and their families. Conclusions Efforts to increase public knowledge on autism, its causes and treatments are of paramount importance, while a public health campaign designed to eliminate the stigma subjected to children with autism is necessary to improve the quality of life of children with autism and their caregivers. Finally, to counteract vaccine hesitancy, particularly in response to the measles vaccine, health policy makers should take steps to separate the cooccurrence of the onset of autism symptoms and the provision of the measles vaccine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:19:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-46424a2b2d8e41fdaa29e0649a681e59 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1753-2000 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:19:49Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-46424a2b2d8e41fdaa29e0649a681e592024-03-05T17:42:30ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002024-02-0118111210.1186/s13034-024-00713-3Exploring knowledge of autism, its causes and treatment among immigrant and nonimmigrant parents in Somalia\SomalilandHodan A. Duale0Abdi Gele1Department of Maternal and Child Health, Somali Institute for Health Research (SIHR)Department of Maternal and Child Health, Somali Institute for Health Research (SIHR)Abstract Background The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has increased over the recent years; however, little is known about the experience of parents of children with autism in Africa such as Somalia. The aim of this study is to understand the knowledge on autism of Somali parents of children with autism and their perceptions of causes and treatment of ASD. Methods We conducted a qualitative study involving 22 parents of children with autism who lived in Mogadishu and Hargeisa; the two largest cities in Somalia. In-depth interviews were used to collect the data. Of the 22 participants, 9 were returned immigrants and 13 were local people (non-immigrants). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results The data revealed that most of the parents hold the belief that their children’s autism were caused by the measles vaccine. The findings demonstrated that parents sought diagnosis and treatment care from outside Somalia due to the lack of experience of health providers in the diagnosis and treatment of autism. The data also revealed a lack of knowledge about autism among the public with resultant stigma and discrimination against children with autism and their families. Conclusions Efforts to increase public knowledge on autism, its causes and treatments are of paramount importance, while a public health campaign designed to eliminate the stigma subjected to children with autism is necessary to improve the quality of life of children with autism and their caregivers. Finally, to counteract vaccine hesitancy, particularly in response to the measles vaccine, health policy makers should take steps to separate the cooccurrence of the onset of autism symptoms and the provision of the measles vaccine.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00713-3AutismSomaliImmigrantsKnowledgeParents of children with autism |
| spellingShingle | Hodan A. Duale Abdi Gele Exploring knowledge of autism, its causes and treatment among immigrant and nonimmigrant parents in Somalia\Somaliland Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Autism Somali Immigrants Knowledge Parents of children with autism |
| title | Exploring knowledge of autism, its causes and treatment among immigrant and nonimmigrant parents in Somalia\Somaliland |
| title_full | Exploring knowledge of autism, its causes and treatment among immigrant and nonimmigrant parents in Somalia\Somaliland |
| title_fullStr | Exploring knowledge of autism, its causes and treatment among immigrant and nonimmigrant parents in Somalia\Somaliland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring knowledge of autism, its causes and treatment among immigrant and nonimmigrant parents in Somalia\Somaliland |
| title_short | Exploring knowledge of autism, its causes and treatment among immigrant and nonimmigrant parents in Somalia\Somaliland |
| title_sort | exploring knowledge of autism its causes and treatment among immigrant and nonimmigrant parents in somalia somaliland |
| topic | Autism Somali Immigrants Knowledge Parents of children with autism |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00713-3 |
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