The prevalence of autism in children has tripled in the past 16 years, showed n alarming finding from a new study published on Thursday in the medical journal Pediatrics:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies autism, commonly known as autism spectrum disorder, as a “developmental condition that can cause substantial social, communication, and behavioral issues.”
The CDC states that the disease starts before a kid turns 3 and can last their entire lives, but symptoms may change and get better.
The substantial increase in autism rates, according to researchers at Rutgers University who studied more than 4,000 8-year-olds in the New York and New Jersey region, is mostly attributable to higher awareness, improved diagnosis techniques, and a broader definition of autism.
Researchers also discovered that children from wealthy backgrounds experienced the biggest increases in diagnosis, drawing the conclusion that children from underprivileged neighborhoods do not have the same access to medical facilities.
In many regions of Africa, efforts to make autism more widely known are still in their early stages.
According to autism parenting magazine, these initiatives are mainly supported by various organizations working across the continent to demystify and advance understanding of autism and, most importantly, to combat the daily challenges that families face due to cultural, religious, and traditional barriers.
For example, there are no laws governing autism or other neurodevelopmental diseases in Nigeria. This is most likely due to the fact that autism frequently manifests as a “invisible handicap.”
Unfortunately, many African countries only consider people with disabilities who are physically, visually, or audibly handicapped.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.