DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2020.v08i02.068

Pages: 740-745

Background: Addressing the inclusion of persons with autism is an integral part of government-implemented strategies for sustainable development. Inclusion is predicted on principles of universal human rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and upheld by the social and human rights models of disability. Objective: The main objective of this study is to evaluate the current scenario and visualize the future prospects and challenges of autism in Bangladesh. Method: This was a cross sectional study to identify the prevalence of autism, the situation of autism, association of factors with autism, and prevalence in different local (urban, rural, community/hospital based) and demographic contexts (age, sex) throughout Bangladesh. For this study data were taken from children aged 2 to 9 years. Results: Persons with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty due to the adverse economic impacts of disability. Affordable community-based services allow for persons with disabilities to remain with their family and local community and participate fully in community life. All efforts should ensure local community-based supports to ensure community independence. National, regional and local initiatives should be coordinated to ensure facilities and employment for persons with disabilities. Implementation of effective monitoring and evaluation plans, which include consumer feedback loops, are key to ensuring accountable and successful interventions. The situation assessment covers the following areas: a review of the scale and prevalence of autism with trends of the disorder in the recent past in Bangladesh; estimation of likely disease burden in the near future; assessment of the social response to autism in Bangladesh; recommendations for monitoring, supervision and reporting mechanisms for autism services at the national level. Conclusion: The knowledge about the general condition of disabled children is shamefully inadequate. Autism data is scarcer, further comp