Poster #44 - A 5 year trend survey from a childhood autism surveillance program in Lagos, Nigeria

• In Event: 3-053 - Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Section - Developmental Disabilities

Integrative Statement

Background: The increased need for research to determine the burden of Autism in Africa also draws attention to the need to address the service gap and related challenges in autism care in many African countries. Stakeholder Collaboration can play roles at varying levels, a strategy which may herald the discovery of sustainable solutions which will evolve to address this challenge.

Objectives: The report aims to describe some of the findings, processes and strengths of a stakeholder driven, community surveillance program over a period of 5 years (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017).

Methods: Clinical evaluation sessions held over 4-5 day periods each year. The evaluations were conducted by a multidisciplinary team of volunteers from different agencies/sectors. Assessments were made based on the DSM 5 Criteria for Autism.


Results: The collaborative team drawn from the private sector (GTBank & NGO’s), public sector and educational sector (University and other skilled volunteers) comprised multidisciplinary professionals committed to autism care.
The 5 year experience had over 800 attendees in total with varied neurodevelopmental disorders.
-About a 3rd were clearly not ASD(who were referred out) or had incomplete data
-2/3rd proceeded for further evaluations each year being: 58, 94, 134, 101 & 72 consecutively.
- For Majority this consultation was their first contact with formal orthodox care.
- Repeat attendees were noted from 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017; 14%, 7%, 29% and 35% respectively.
- Caregiver burden was clearly evident each year amongst caregivers.

Discussion:
Lessons learnt from collaboration

Challenges
• Requires great coordination
• Risk of over enthusiasm
• Repeat attendees
• Larger number of non ASD participants
• Merging interest areas of different sectors

Benefits
• Multidisciplinary input
• Wide variety of services on site
• Manageable cost to each sector
• Referrals made to support groups and ASD clinical services

Future strategies
• Improvement of pre-screening selection process
• Regular clarification of group goals and priorities

Conclusions: This program highlights
- Much can be achieved through team work.
- In the face of scarce resources, collaborative efforts is a useful strategy to ensuring service delivery in Africa where there are little or no ASD relevant services.
-Monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance processes need to be continually included and reviewed in such programs going forward.

Authors

• Elizabeth Adebola Campbell, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, Lagos state
  Presenting Author

• Yewande Oshodi, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, Lagos state
  Non-Presenting Author

• Anna Lamikanra, Blazing Trails International, Frisco, TX
  Non-Presenting Author