Research: Etiological Explanation, Treatability, and Preventability of Childhood Autism: A Survey of Nigerian Healthcare Workers’ Opinion

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Authored by Bakare, MO, Agomoh AO, Ebigbo PO, Eaton J., Okonkwo KO, Onwukwe JU, and Onyeama GM in Annals of General Psychiatry, Volume 8, Issue 6, p. 6-14, (2009).

Article summary (posted Oct 23, 2009):

A survey of Nigerian health care workers showed that the workers may have some negative opinions or beliefs about autism and autism therapies.

The researchers surveyed 134 Nigerian nurses about their attitudes and opinions related to autism. The survey found that 55% of the nurses thought that autism was treatable and 32% thought that it was preventable. Nurses working less than 6 years were more likely to think autism was preventable. Also, 25% of the nurses thought that autism was caused by supernatural causes. The authors think that changing the opinions of the healthcare workers through education is important. The authors also think that families of people with autism would be more likely to seek care and therapy if the healthcare workers encouraged it.

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autism, nurse, therapy
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