Autism-Current Status and Challenges in Pakistan

Abstract

Autism is a group of neuro-developmental disabilities. It has an early-onset and can be diagnosed up to 3 years
of age. It is characterized by disturbances in child's socialization, communication and cognitive abilities, and an
unusual repetitive and restricted behavior. The majority of subjects have comorbid conditions. Males are more
1 affected than females.¹ The prevalence of autism is increasing in the world that could be due to improvement in1 diagnostic procedures and awareness in public and its worldwide prevalence is around 1%.¹
In Pakistan, there is a lack of widespread awareness and understanding about autism. We do not have exact
prevalence data on this disease in Pakistan. However, according to the Autism Society of Pakistan, there are
2 probably 350,000 children with this disease in the country.² But the actual prevalence is believed to be much
higher. Many cases remain undiagnosed because of unawareness, lack of medical facilities and stigma that is
3 attached to mental conditions in Pakistan. In Pakistan, the distribution of disabilities includes mental
retardation (MR), hearing impairment, visual impairment and physical disability. Autism is not considered as a
disability in Pakistani society. Moreover, the term mental disability or cognition problem is considered as a
social stigma or disgrace. Therefore, many people do not disclose the condition to avoid stigma. Another
important reason of undiagnosed cases is lack of medical facilities and untrained doctors that categories autism under intellectual disability that is another condition. Many people especially from rural areas opt traditional therapies or go to preachers for healing.