Autism spectrum disorders in sub-Saharan Africa

Authors

Amina Abubakar, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Derrick Ssewanyana, Kenya-Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Collaborative Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
Petrus J de Vries, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Charles R Newton, Kenya-Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Collaborative Programme, Kilifi, Kenya

Document Type

Article

Department

Institute for Human Development

Abstract

Abstract: Autism spectrum disorder is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders in high-income countries, but little is known about the disorder in low-income and middle-income regions, such as Africa. 12 A review 3 of the global prevalence of autism did not identify any data from sub-Saharan Africa, even though this region has a population of nearly 1 billion, 40% of whom are children younger than 14 years. Although public-health emphasis in sub-Saharan Africa has been on communicable conditions such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, 4 with the reduction in childhood mortality rates in the past 20 years, non-communicable diseases (particularly, neurodevelopmental disorders) are likely to become a greater health burden in these countries. 4 Studies on autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in Africa are urgently needed.

Comments

This work was published before the author joined Aga Khan University.

Publication (Name of Journal)

The Lancet Psychiatry

Recommended Citation

Abubakar, A., Ssewanyana, D., de Vries, P., Newton, C. (2016). Autism spectrum disorders in sub-Saharan Africa. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(9), 800-802.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/eastafrica_ihd/104