Autism in Brazil: a systematic review of family challenges and coping strategies
Journal Title: Jornal de Pediatria - Year 2015, Vol 91, Issue 2
Abstract
Objective To describe the challenges faced by families caring for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Brazil and the coping strategies employed. Sources Systematic review of articles published until September of 2013, without language restrictions, using quality appraisal (AMSTAR and CASP/Oxford instruments). Summary of the findings The literature shows parental emotional overload as one of the main challenges faced by families, especially mothers. The main stressors were diagnostic postponement, difficulty dealing with the diagnosis and associated symptoms, and poor access to health services and social support. The predominant coping strategies found included information exchange between affected families and integrated healthcare network for patient and family support. Conclusion ASD exerts strong influence on family dynamics, resulting in caregiver overload, especially in mothers. The Brazilian Unified Health System needs to provide comprehensive, continuous, and coordinated care to strengthen the patient-family dyad and promote the full development and societal inclusion of children with ASD.
Authors and Affiliations
Nathan Souza
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP560350
- DOI 10.1016/j.jped.2014.08.009
- Views 40
- Downloads 0
Update on the approach of urinary tract infection in childhood
Objective Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common bacterial infection in childhood. UTI may be the sentinel event for underlying renal abnormality. There are still many controversies regarding proper management...
Painful procedures and analgesia in the NICU: what has changed in the medical perception and practice in a ten-year period?
Objective To compare the use of analgesia versus neonatologists’ perception regarding analgesic use in painful procedures in the years 2001, 2006, and 2011. Methods This was a prospective cohort study of all newborns ad...
Pacifier and bottle nipples: the targets for poor breastfeeding outcomes
The act of feeding an infant is extremely complex. Feeding requires the infant to coordinate five cranial nerves, multiple spinal segments in the chest wall, and 30 pairs of muscles across several physiological systems (...
Evaluation of respiratory dynamics by volumetric capnography during submaximal exercise protocol of six minutes on treadmill in cystic fibrosis patients
Objectives Volumetric capnography provides the standard CO2 elimination by the volume expired per respiratory cycle and is a measure to assess pulmonary involvement. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the...
Association of neopterin as a marker of immune system activation and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis activity
Objective To evaluate neopterin plasma concentrations in patients with active juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and correlate them with disease activity. Methods Sixty patients diagnosed as active JIA, as well as anot...