Treating Anxiety and Social Deficits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Two Schools in Nairobi, Kenya

Niceta W Ireri; Susan W White; Anne W Mbwayo

doi:10.1007/s10803-019-04045-6

Treating Anxiety and Social Deficits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Two Schools in Nairobi, Kenya

J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 Aug;49(8):3309-3315. doi: 10.1007/s10803-019-04045-6.

Authors

Niceta W Ireri¹, Susan W White², Anne W Mbwayo³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, School of Education, Africa International University, Nairobi, 18437-00100, Kenya. nicentai@gmail.com.
² Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA.
³ Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.

PMID: 31093801
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04045-6

Abstract

Anxiety in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) contributes to their functional impairment. We evaluated a cognitive-behavioral program for anxiety and social deficits in children with ASD in two schools in Nairobi City, Kenya. Parents and teachers of 40 children and adolescents with ASD (5-21 years) participated, randomized by school. The two schools were randomly assigned to either intervention (n = 20) or control (n = 20). There was a significant improvement in ASD severity as well as anxiety within the treatment group, which was not seen in the control group. These findings support the expansion of treatments for ASD core deficits and secondary problems in youth with ASD in developing countries.

Keywords: Anxiety; Autism; Comorbidity; Intervention; Social skills.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Anxiety / therapy*
Autism Spectrum Disorder / therapy*
Behavior Therapy / methods*
Child
Early Intervention, Educational / methods*
Female
Humans
Kenya
Male
Parents / education
Schools
Social Skills*