Qualité de Vie des Parents d’Enfants Autistes Suivis dans Deux Hôpitaux Universitaires de Yaoundé – une Étude Comparative au Cameroun: Quality of life of parents of autistic children followed up in two university teaching hospitals in Yaoundé – a comparative study in Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction. Autistic Spectrum Disorders are a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairment of social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication, and restricted or repetitive behaviours. The prevalence of this condition is on the rise worldwide and many studies have assessed their impact among parents of affected children. No such study has been conducted in Cameroon. Aim and Methods. We carried out a non-probabilistic consecutive sampling of parents of autistic children as well as those with non-autistic children. The data collected from both groups (socio-demographic and clinical information as well as that related to their quality of life using the SF-36 questionnaire) was compared between the 2 groups (Student’s T-test or ANOVA). Results. A total of 67 participants were recruited, including 35 parents of non-autistic children and 32 parents of children with autism. The latter had a poor quality of life, with a significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to their counterparts; particularly in the areas of physical score, physical limitation, mental score, social functioning and mental health. All 32 children followed up (78.1% male) had the typical form of autistic spectrum disorders, characterized mainly by hyperactivity (50%), sleep disorders (15.6%) and feeding problems (12.5%) and ten (31.2%) had no form of clinical management at all. Conclusion. Parents of autistic children have an impaired quality of life in many domains. These findings will help health professionals develop more accurate strategies for their optimal psychological accompaniment. Furthermore, financial support by the Government might also help alleviate some burden in the less privileged families