Autism in Nigeria

I won’t be surprised if you are hearing or reading about autism for the first time; this is because it is rarely talked about. It is possibly one of the country’s most ignored healthcare concerns. In Nigeria, there is a lack of awareness campaigns on autism just as there are no adequate resources for early detection and treatment of the neurodevelopmental disorder. As a result, children born with autism are refused vital care because their families are unable to afford the financial burden that such a health condition comes with. Due to the stigma associated with having a kid with autism, some people with autism are also isolated and locked up by their families.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), autism is a diverse set of neurodevelopmental disorders marked by varying degrees of social communication and interaction difficulty, repetitive behaviours, and limited language abilities. It is most commonly diagnosed in childhood, and the effects and intensity of symptoms vary from person to person. People with autism frequently have co-occurring disorders such as epilepsy, depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as other challenging behaviours. One of the most widely held misconceptions about autism is that it is a disease. Some people believe that it can be treated as an illness with medication and that autistic people are thus “sick.” None of it is correct because autism is a neurological problem, not a mental illness.

According to experts, there is no single aetiology for the spectrum disorder. Given the disorder’s complexity and the fact that symptoms and severity vary, several causes are plausible. The causes can be traced to both genetics and the environment. In certain children, autism spectrum disorder might be connected to a genetic illness such as Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome. Genetic variations (mutations) may raise the likelihood of autism spectrum disorder in other children. Other genes may influence brain growth or communication between brain cells, or they may influence the severity of symptoms. Some genetic mutations appear to be inherited, while others appear to happen by chance. On the environmental causes, it has yet to be confirmed whether viral infections, medicines, pregnancy complications, as well as air pollution, play a role in the onset of autism spectrum disease.

A growing prevalence of the disorder has been recorded globally. According to the WHO data, one out of every 100 children in the world has Autism, having been diagnosed in 135 million people around the world. Although there is no reliable data on autism in Nigeria and Africa, a 2014 study found that 54 of the 2,320 children in Nigeria tested positive for the disorder. According to the findings, it is more common in males than in females, with 45 males and nine females diagnosed. Despite the lack of contemporary statistics on autism in Nigeria, the majority of people with autism do not have access to medical, psychosocial, or financial assistance.

Nigeria currently lacks a policy for neurodevelopmental disorders, most of which are hidden, even though they affect people of all social classes and economic statuses. In Nigeria, there are significant gaps in information about autism and the care of affected children, as well as burdens on the families of autistic people. The availability and accessibility of screening and diagnostic tools, the cultural determinants of health-seeking behaviour, the availability and spread of facilities where children can receive care, and the support available to children and families with autism-related conditions are all urgent issues that must be addressed. Filling these gaps and resolving associated concerns will require a national policy and strong political commitment.

The protection of the rights and well-being of children living with autism, the empowerment of their families to make the best-informed decisions, and the provision of the most appropriate framework for government at all levels to support the care of affected persons physically, medically, educationally, and psychologically to maximize whatever potential they possess should be the primary objectives of a well-conceived and well-articulated national policy. Even though there is no known cure for the disorder yet, specialist education and structured support can help a person with autism maximize their skills and reach their full potential in adulthood.