Parental use of conventional and complementary therapy for autism in Jordan

Amira T Masri; Faisal Khatib; Abdelkarim Al Qudah; Omar Nafi; Miral Almomani; Mahmoud Bashtawi; Farah Alomari; Shahed Qutifan; Ahed Qutifan

doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102275

Parental use of conventional and complementary therapy for autism in Jordan

Complement Ther Med. 2020 Jan:48:102275. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102275. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

Authors

Amira T Masri¹, Faisal Khatib², Abdelkarim Al Qudah³, Omar Nafi⁴, Miral Almomani⁵, Mahmoud Bashtawi⁶, Farah Alomari⁷, Shahed Qutifan⁸, Ahed Qutifan⁹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Pediatric Department Division of Child Neurology, The University of Jordan, Jordan. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Jordan. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Faculty of Medicine, Pediatric Department Division of Child Neurology, The University of Jordan, Jordan. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Jordan. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Neuroscience Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Faculty of Medicine, Pediatric Department, The University of Jordan, Jordan. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Jordan. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁹ Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Jordan. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 31987222
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102275

Abstract

Objective: We investigated parental use of conventional therapies and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for children with autism in Jordan.

Method: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2018 through December 2018 at the paediatric neurology clinics of three tertiary referral hospitals in Jordan. The accompanying parent was interviewed to complete a structured questionnaire.

Results: 274 parents were interviewed. The most common medications used were those to treat hyperactivity (150; 54.7 %), anticonvulsants (60; 21.9 %), and sleep aids (6; 2.1 %). CAM was used by 129 parents (47.0 %). A casein-free diet was the most commonly used dietary modification (24; 8.7 %), while fish oil (Omega-3) was the most common supplement used (96; 35.0 %). Hyperbaric oxygen, chelation therapy, and antifungal treatment were also occasionally used. Higher parental education levels and access to rehabilitation services correlated with higher CAM use (p < 0.05).

Keywords: Autism; Children; Complementary and alternative therapy; Conventional therapy; Disabilities; Neurodevelopment; Treatment.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Autistic Disorder / therapy*
Child
Child, Preschool
Complementary Therapies / methods*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Jordan
Male
Middle Aged
Parents
Prospective Studies