Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN YEMENI CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, AND THEIR CAREGIVERS’ PERCEPTION AND KNOWLEDGE – AT AUTISM REHABILITATION CENTERS, SANA'A

Sadeq Hasan Al-Sheraji*, Kholoud Khalid Shannan, Somaia Ameen Al-Shoga'a, Abeer Khalid Al-Akwa, Ola Abduljabbar Al-Wajeeh, Buthaina Nabil Al-Abhar, Omaima Saleh Al-Baidhani, Thahaba Ameen Al-Azzeni and Afnan Abdu AL-Ameri

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess nutritional status in Yemeni children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and to evaluate their parents’ perspective and knowledge. A cross sectional, descriptive study was conducted. Data collected from four autism rehabilitation centers in Sana’a Capital. The study population was formed of children with ASD and their parents. A questionnaire was prepared for the purpose of data collection. First part of the questionnaire included a checklist for child’s demographic data and anthropometric measures. Second part included parents’ demographic data. Third part included data regarding parents’ knowledge and perception about nutritional status, feeding behavior, healthy weight, and physical activity of their autistic children, and parents’ knowledge regarding risk of obesity in autistic children. Among 82 autistic children, males represented the majority (62.2%), and females represented (37.8%). Their ages ranged between 3.5 years and 12 years. Assessment of BMI reported that autistic children with acute malnutrition represented 19.5%, and those with underweight represented 23.2%. Overweight represented 12.2%, and the minority (4.9%) were obese. The remaining portion (40.2%) were in the range of normal weight. A strong positive correlation was found between MUAC and BMI. About half of autistic children were belonged to either illiterate parents (26.8%) or parents had only primary education (22%). About two thirds (62.2%) of parents thought that their children were receiving unbalanced diet. According to parents, 53.7% of their autistic children were picky eaters, 12.2% were obsessed with food, 19.5% had lost their appetite, and only 14.6% of children were not affected. As stated by parents, the majority (86.6%) of autistic children had barriers of getting nutritional balance. Those barriers included refuse eating (41.5%), binge eating (13.4%), difficulty swallowing (12.2%), inadequate eating (12.2%), vomiting (4.9%), and pica (2.4%). From parents’ perspective, most of autistic children (76.8%) seemed to be hyperactive, (58.5%) were able to use electronic devices. From parents’ point of view, their children were not in healthy weight due to either unbalanced nutrition (58.5%) or due to inactivity (12.2%). The remaining parents (29.3%) considered their children in a healthy weight. About two thirds of parents (64.6%) had no knowledge about obesity risk in autistic children. It is recommended to increase awareness among parents towards nutritional status and milestones of their autistic children. There is a need for further research studying the impact of atypical eating behaviors on growth and development of ASD children.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, children, nutritional status, parents’ knowledge, parents’ perception.