DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i07.022

Pages: 2372-2382

Introduction: It has been suggested that peptides from gluten and casein may have a role in the origins of autism and that the physiology and psychology of autism might be explained by excessive opioid activity linked to these peptides. Research has reported abnormal levels of peptides in the urine and cerebrospinal fluid of people with autism. Objective: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate whether caregiver’s variations in socioeconomic status (SES) has direct bearing on challenges of nurturing children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Bangladesh. Study setting and period: Department of Pediatrics of Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh between July to December 2018. Results: A cadre of caregivers (n = 150) from two types of SES (low-income and middle-high income) were compared based on four domains: (1) accessing and perception of remedial services, (2) utilization and perception of psychiatric services, (3) constraints for being a caregiver of children with ASD and (4) financial expenses of taking care of children with ASD. There is little indication that any particular SES fare well on these domains. Factors to mitigate such predicaments are therefore imperative in order to improve quality of life for caregivers among children with ASD. Conclusion: The net socio-economic outcome appears to be downward social mobility, as many of them relinquish their income-generating jobs in order to focus on their cognitively, socially and behaviorally challenged children.