16723
Autism in Bangladesh: Current Scenario and Future Prospects
Objectives: To provide effective and better services for children with autism through primary health care by using existing resources and manpower. To train primary health care physicians as they become skilled to handle (screening, diagnosis and management) Autism and referred to next level when necessary. To reduce treatment gap and decrease the treatment cost Autism. To be establish the e-autism service by using web camera and internet.
Methods: For the capacity building the country need to trained the primary health care professionals who are working in 13000 community clinics. A door step health care service system exists, just need to incorporate there the Autism related services. There are lack of multidisciplinary approach in Autism services; need to make a common framework for pediatrician, psychiatrists, psychologists and other support service staffs. Plan to make a national guideline for autism management. Need intensive but short term training on autism diagnosis and management for field level physicians. Training materials include manual for training consisted several modules and multimedia will be used. Beside the training a cell phone and internet based web camera will be placed in every community health clinics and trained physicians can contact with the centrally placed autism experts 24 hour through a hot line
Results: The primary care physicians will be able to screen, assess, diagnose and manage primarily Autism Spectrum Disorders. They would be able to refer the children to the next step rationally. The effectiveness of training will be reflected in the attitude, assessment and management plan of the primary health care physicians. Referral and back referral system will be established.
Conclusions: ‘When there is no way, create one’, with this proposition, country will able to deliver better services for Autism to the community where the number of health professionals and resources are inadequate. By this notion, Bangladesh will change its autism scenario and set up an example for South East Asian countries as well as other developing countries.