Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2022.587

THE CHALLENGES OF CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS COMORBIDITY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN SERBIA

Miodrag Stankovic ; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia ; Department of Child Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health Protection, University Clinical Centre of Nis, Nis, Serbia
Aleksandra Stojanovic ; Department of Child Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health Protection, University Clinical Centre of Nis, Nis, Serbia
Aleksandra Ignjatovic ; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia; Department of Medical Statistic, Institute of Public Health Nis, Nis, Serbia
Mayada Elsabbagh ; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Miriam Gonzalez ; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Afiqah Yusuf ; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Alaa Ibrahim ; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Keiko Shikako-Thomas ; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Jelena Stojanov ; Special Hospital for Psychiatric Disorders "Gornja Toponica", Nis, Serbia
Matija Stankovic ; College of Computing and Informatics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Abstract

Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) experience significantly higher prevalence of other mental
disorders, which amplifies their need for overall support. The outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) resulted in restrictions and
limited access to different services with great challenge for families and children with ASD.
Subjects and methods: We used an electronic SurveyMonkey questionnaire to examine the experiences of 114 caregivers of
children with ASD. We compared: (a) level of support by the child’s school, changes in child behavior, and priority needs for
families of ASD and ASD with comorbidities (ASD+) children, during pandemic, and (b) developmental history and diagnosis for
ASD and ASD+ children before the pandemic.
Results: Our research shows significant behavioral difficulties in the population with ASD and ASD+ that arose in the field of
altered living conditions and overall functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistically significant results comparing ASD to
ASD+ children we found in area of getting additional help and support before the outbreak of the pandemic (47.1% vs 16.0%,
p=0.002), as well as in worsening of sleep problems, statistically significant more common in children with ASD+ (ASD+ 47.7% vs.
ASD 25.7%, p=0.046).
Conclusions: Our findings can contribute to the faster development and implementation of protocols for dealing with situations
such as pandemics, related to the vulnerable population of children with ASD and their caregivers.

Keywords

autism spectrum disorders; comorbidity; COVID-19 pandemic; facilitators; barriers

Hrčak ID:

290463

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/290463

Publication date:

3.11.2022.

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