Children with autism are 21 times more common in cities than in villages – 2024-04-02 14:39:58

Autism is a developmental disorder of the child’s brain. Many problems can be seen in social communication, social behavior and social imagination among children affected by it. A lot of research has been done around the world to find the cause of autism. However, its exact cause is not yet found. According to researchers, it is a genetic problem. In addition, if there is any environmental problem, its level increases further. Experts call it autism spectrum disorder or ASD.

In the context of Bangladesh, if a member of a family is diagnosed with autism, it has a severe negative impact on that family. In many cases the family life of the parents becomes dire. In many cases, this problem is also considered to be related to the child’s genes. But the whole thing is actually due to some of their limitations.

Those concerned say that once autistic children were kept apart from the rest of the society for years. They did not participate in any social rituals. But now it has gradually reduced. However, children with autism are still mostly out of treatment or education. Not much has changed in this regard.

3 percent children of Dhaka are affected with autism
There is no accurate statistics on how many children are affected by autism in the country, whether public or private. According to a 2009 estimate, one percent of children in the country have autism. According to a 2013 statistic, 3 percent of children in Dhaka city have autism. And every seven hundred people in the village have one child with autism. Accordingly, the rate of children with autism is 21 times higher in cities than in villages.

86142 children with autism registered in the country
According to the ongoing disability identification survey under the Ministry of Social Welfare, the number of autistic children in the country till April 1 of this year is about 86 thousand 142 people. Among them 52 thousand 838 men and 33 thousand 250 women. Besides, there are 54 people from Hijra community. That is, 61.33 percent of those diagnosed with autism are male.

In such a situation, the 17th ‘World Autism Awareness Day’ will be celebrated on April 2 in Bangladesh like the rest of the world. This year the theme of the day is ‘Awareness-Recognition-Valuation: A Journey from Survival to Prosperity’. On the occasion of the day, a special circular will be published in the daily newspaper on Tuesday. Blue lights will be lit in the Ministry of Social Welfare and various government institutions under its jurisdiction in honor of people with autism. Besides, road-branding, special souvenirs and leaflets have been printed to create awareness about autism.

To celebrate the day, the Ministry of Social Welfare has organized various programs at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the capital. Minister of Social Welfare Dr. Dipu Moni will be the chief guest. The meeting will be chaired by Social Welfare Secretary Md. Khairul Alam Sekh.

There are no exact statistics on the number of children with autism, whether public or private. According to a 2009 estimate, one percent of children in the country have autism. According to a 2013 statistic, 3 percent of children in Dhaka city have autism. And every seven hundred people in the village have one child with autism. Accordingly, the rate of children with autism is 21 times higher in cities than in villages

In the country since 2008, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and internationally renowned autism expert, daughter of eminent nuclear scientist Wazed Mia, started working on children’s autism and neurological complications. Sayema ​​Wazed doll. On his initiative, the first international conference on autism was held in Dhaka in 2011. Which is headquartered in Bangladesh. Due to his efforts, ‘Neuro Developmental Disability Trust Act-2013’ was passed in Bangladesh.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Institute of Pediatric Neuro Disorder and Autism (IPNA) Department Professor Dr. Gopen Kumar Kundu told Jago News, We have done several studies to know the cause of autism. It has been shown that autism is mainly caused by genetic and environmental factors. It was once thought that vitamin D deficiency could lead to an increase in autism. But studies have found no evidence of this. I also researched lead levels in the air, but it didn’t seem to be linked to autism. However, various surveys have found higher rates of autism in urban areas. Some environmental problems in the city are identified as the reason for this.

He said, in 2017, a survey conducted under BSMMU on children with autism under the age of three showed that the level of autism was 17 per 1,000. If there are four boys with autism, one girl is found, i.e. 4 to 1 ratio. Its levels are higher in urban areas and lower in rural areas.

National Institute of Mental Health and Associate Professor Dr. Helal Uddin Ahmed told Jago News that Bangladesh has a strategy for autism. The concerted efforts of the government to mainstream them is an example to the whole world. Bangladesh has been the proponent and originator of most of the policies adopted by the World Health Organization on children with autism and neurological problems. But we have not progressed as far in the workplace as we have in policy. Our main challenge will be to implement the policies and guidelines in this regard in the coming days.

Autism is mainly caused by genetic and environmental factors. It was once thought that vitamin D deficiency could lead to an increase in autism. But studies have found no evidence of this. I also researched lead levels in the air, but it didn’t seem to be linked to autism. However, various surveys have found higher rates of autism in urban areas. Some environmental problems in the city are identified as the reason for this

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an average of 1 in 125 children are born with symptoms of autism. No specific cause of autism can be found. There are several reasons for this. which is a multi-factorial gene-environmental interaction. Whether or not a person will have autistic traits is determined by genes. Autism can also occur if the environment is unfavorable to him. Babies born with low birth weight or mothers who were malnourished during pregnancy have a higher risk of autism. It is considered a risk factor.

Autism symptoms appear between one and a half to three years
Dr. Gopen Kumar Kundu said that a child with autism shows some symptoms from the age of one and a half years. After three years, the full picture was revealed. These children do not want to mix with other children, like to be alone, like to play with certain things alone.

‘The kind of sports that normal children play, those with autism do not play. Children with autism play with bottles, brushes or pieces of paper. Such children respond less when called by name, do not speak with eye contact. They want to sleep more at night. They have digestive problems. Sometimes they are more hyper. Many times some people suffer from seizures and epilepsy’ – he said.

What to do to know if a child has autism
Dr. Gopen Kumar Kundu said, it is important to pay attention to whether the child is developing at a certain age or not. For example, a one-year-old child should talk so much, a two-year-old child should talk so much, these things should be taken care of. That is, step by step the development of the child that is supposed to happen or not; For this, the child should be examined by a pediatrician or medical college hospital occasionally. In this case, doctors identify autistic children with red flags.

Whether the child is developing at a certain age or not, it is important to take care of the matter. For example, a one-year-old child should talk so much, a two-year-old child should talk so much, these things should be taken care of. That is, step by step the development of the child that is supposed to happen or not; For this, the child should be examined by a pediatrician or medical college hospital occasionally. In this case, doctors identify autistic children as red flags

“A baby smiles at its mother for the first time at one-and-a-half months, but if a baby doesn’t smile at its mother by six months, that baby is red flagged.” At the age of six months a baby makes a babbling (babababba) sound. If the baby doesn’t make any babbling sounds within a year and the baby doesn’t indicate its needs with fingers then this is also marked as a red flag.’

‘Also a one-year-old baby talks a little. For example, father, grandfather and uncle. But if a child cannot say these words between one and a half to two years and if a two year old child cannot say the two words together then that child will be red flagged. In this case, a doctor should be consulted quickly’- said Dr. Gopen Kumar Kundu.

Autism treatment
It is not possible to completely cure this disease. Because, it is genetic. On the other hand, medical care is inadequate compared to the patient. First the disease must be diagnosed. Some of these patients have hyperactivity. Difficulty eating. Indigestion, convulsions. A doctor is enough to treat such diseases. However, some of these diseases require a psychologist and a speech therapist for practical education.

AAM/MKR