Exploring knowledge of autism, its causes and treatment among immigrant and nonimmigrant parents in Somalia\Somaliland.
Somali parents blame the measles shot and leave the country for autism services.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Duale et al. (2024) talked with Somali and non-Somali parents about autism. They asked what causes autism and where families go for help.
The team used open interviews. Parents shared stories about stigma, vaccines, and long trips for care.
What they found
Most parents blamed the measles vaccine for autism. Local doctors and therapy rooms were scarce.
Families felt shame at home. Many flew to nearby countries for diagnosis and treatment.
How this fits with other research
Ramachandran (2020) also used parent interviews. In India, parents felt left out of therapy choices. In Somalia, parents feel there is no choice at all. Both studies show services that ignore parents create extra stress.
Siklos et al. (2007) counted years of waiting in Canada. Their numbers back up the Somali story: when local diagnosis is missing, families drift.
Andrews et al. (2024) found that autistic adults who learn from peer-run blogs feel less stigma. Somali parents who only hear vaccine rumors show the flip side: wrong sources feed shame.
Why it matters
If you work with East-African refugee families, expect vaccine worries and overseas care trips. Start by asking, "Where do you get your autism facts?" Share photos of local clinics and list free local services. A one-page Somali-language handout with clinic maps and vaccine facts can cut stigma and keep families in town.
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Join Free →Hand every Somali parent a simple Somali/English sheet with local clinic address, phone, and a short line: "Vaccines do not cause autism—here is the science link.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has increased over the recent years; however, little is known about the experience of parents of children with autism in Africa such as Somalia. The aim of this study is to understand the knowledge on autism of Somali parents of children with autism and their perceptions of causes and treatment of ASD. We conducted a qualitative study involving 22 parents of children with autism who lived in Mogadishu and Hargeisa; the two largest cities in Somalia. In-depth interviews were used to collect the data. Of the 22 participants, 9 were returned immigrants and 13 were local people (non-immigrants). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The data revealed that most of the parents hold the belief that their children’s autism were caused by the measles vaccine. The findings demonstrated that parents sought diagnosis and treatment care from outside Somalia due to the lack of experience of health providers in the diagnosis and treatment of autism. The data also revealed a lack of knowledge about autism among the public with resultant stigma and discrimination against children with autism and their families. Efforts to increase public knowledge on autism, its causes and treatments are of paramount importance, while a public health campaign designed to eliminate the stigma subjected to children with autism is necessary to improve the quality of life of children with autism and their caregivers. Finally, to counteract vaccine hesitancy, particularly in response to the measles vaccine, health policy makers should take steps to separate the cooccurrence of the onset of autism symptoms and the provision of the measles vaccine.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 2024 · doi:10.1186/s13034-024-00713-3