Children with autism spectrum disorders in developing countries

描述（由申请人提供）：ASD是一种神经发育障碍，其特征是社交障碍和刻板行为的存在。在最近对全球流行病学调查的回顾中，ASD患病率估计的中位数为62/10，000。此外，有证据表明，随着时间的推移，流行率估计数有所增加。然而，这项审查无法确定任何已发表的关于非洲ASD基于人口的估计数据。在南非一项针对18至36个月大祖鲁语儿童的ASD检测计划中，发现ASD诊断不足，临床或教育记录中很少报告。几乎没有关于非洲ASD管理的文献。没有关于药物治疗的信息。在自闭症儿童的父母开办的私立学校，少数儿童可以获得行为干预。针对这些不足之处，本提案寻求资金，以开展为期3天的非洲儿童自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）临床方面的研究计划，以收集必要的数据，旨在确定如何提高撒哈拉以南非洲国家ASD诊断和治疗的标准。我们将邀请来自非洲和国外的专家举行座谈会，讨论撒哈拉以南非洲ASD儿童的最佳识别和治疗。重点研究的问题是：（i）根据专家意见（座谈会）和现有出版物，撒哈拉以南非洲儿童自闭症的现状如何？(ii)通过世界卫生组织（世卫组织）和其他自闭症团体等组织目前的实践参数，有哪些指导方针可用于对自闭症儿童进行最佳管理？(iii)这些准则对撒哈拉以南非洲目前的服务能力是否可行？(iv)撒哈拉以南非洲地区自闭症儿童的知识差距是什么？(v)减少撒哈拉以南非洲ASD儿童治疗差距的最佳策略是什么？从这次研讨会收集的研究数据和随后实施的变化将在一系列出版物中介绍。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and presence of stereotyped behaviors. In a recent review of epidemiological surveys worldwide, the median of prevalence estimates for ASD was 62/10,000. In addition, there was evidence for increased prevalence estimates over time. However, this review could not identify any published data on population-based estimates of ASD from Africa. In an ASD detection program for 18- to 36-month old Zulu-speaking children in South Africa, ASD was found to be underdiagnosed and rarely reported in clinical or educational records. There is virtually no literature regarding the management of ASD in Africa. There is no information regarding treatment with medications. Access to behavioral intervention is available to a small number of children at private schools instituted by parents of children with ASD. In response to these inadequacies, the present proposal seeks funding to hold a 3-day research program on the clinical aspects of childhood Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Africa in an effort to collect the necessary data aimed at determining how to elevate the standard of ASD diagnosis and treatment in sub-Saharan African countries. We will invite a colloquium of specialists from Africa and abroad to discuss optimal identification and treatment for children with ASD in sub-Saharan Africa. The research questions to be focused on will be: (i) what is the status quo of childhood ASD in sub-Saharan Africa based on expert opinion (the colloquium) and available publications? (ii) What guidelines exist for the optimal management of children with ASD through current practice parameters from organizations such as World Health Organization (WHO) and other autism groups? (iii) Are these guidelines viable to current service capacity in sub-Saharan Africa? (iv) What are the areas of knowledge gap in relation to children with ASD in sub-Saharan Africa? (v) What are the best strategies to reduce the treatment gap in children with ASD from sub-Saharan Africa? The research data collected from this workshop and subsequent implementation of changes will be presented in a series of publications.