• Kenyatta University

• HISTORY 232

Autism is one of the health conditions affecting millions of children around the world. Although children from all racial groups bear the burden of autism around the world, the paper will focus on children on how children from ethnic minority groups are disproportionately impacted. Sociocultural factors have been some of the ones contributing to an increase in cases of autism. Previous research studies have revealed that sociocultural factors such as beliefs are leading to increasing the effects of autism among racial minority children. For example, African Americans have lower rates of early diagnosis thus delayed treatment. One of the beliefs that prevent their parents from seeking early diagnosis is the belief that they will not receive adequate treatment or serious attention to their health condition under the current healthcare system. Most racial minority parents are reluctant to take their children for diagnosis and treatment due to perceptions that there will be discrimination against them based on their race and color. This paper focuses on investigating the sociocultural factors that impact on racial minority children with autism. In the closing part of this study, a short discussion on how this research influences my career. How do the sociocultural factors impact on children with autism? INTRODUCTION There is an increase in the prevalence of autism. One in every 110 children in the U.S. has autism (CDC, 2010). Although a significant number of children with autism live in developing This study source was downloaded by 100000874968972 from CourseHero.com on 04-13-2024 10:53:18 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/32025467/unit-7-assignmentdocx/ HOW DO THE SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS IMPACT ON CHILDREN WITH AUTISM? 3 countries, developed countries also have many children who suffer from the effects of autism. Even in areas where there are low prevalence rates, such low rates occur due to low diagnosis rates as well as incomplete reporting. Therefore, reported prevalence rate may be just below the proportion of children who have autism. According to CDC (2006) and Mandell et al. (2009), children from minority groups such as Asian Americans, Hispanic, and African Americans are less likely to receive early diagnosis compared to other racial groups. The problem arises because, even after diagnosis, these children receive a diagnosis other than aut