Faiza Ibrahim Abdi
Biography
A dedicated public health professional with expertise in disease prevention, health promotion, and epidemiology. Experienced in data analysis, health informatics, and hospital management systems, including DHIS2. Actively engaged in program design, research, and community outreach, collaborating with governments, NGOs, and healthcare providers. Passionate about advancing health equity, strengthening health systems, and improving population health outcomes.
Currently involved in university health initiatives, presenting research at academic conferences, and volunteering in vulnerable communities through Hargeisa Group Hospital, contributing to health education, vaccination drives, and outreach programs.
Research Interest
Programming tools
Data visualization
Data analysis and statistics
Abstract
Early identification of autism spectrum disorder among child in hargeisa Somaliland
BACKGROUND
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) isa neurodevelopmental condition marked by difficulties in social communication, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. Early identification of autism is vital, as research consistently shows that early intervention.
Which is to manifests in early childhood, with subtle signs often observable between 12 to 18 months of age. These signs can include delayed speech development, lack of eye contac limited social engagement, and repetitive behaviors. Research suggests that early Intervention-before the age of 3-can positively impact cognitive, language, and adaptive skills, providing a foundation of better living and integration into school and society.
The growing recognition of autism has led to widespread efforts in screening and public awareness campaigns
RESEARCH AIM AND QUESTIONS
AIM
The aim of this research is to explore and evaluate the effectiveness of early identification strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children, with a focus on recognizing early behavioral, social, and communication signs before the age of 3. The study seeks to assess the reliability of existing diagnostic tools, the role of parental and healthcare provider observations, and the impact of early detection on intervention outcomes. Additionally, it aims to identify barriers to early diagnosis in diverse populations and propose methods to enhance early screening and intervention efforts.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
to determine the level of knowledge among mothers towards their own children and to improve the accuracy and timeliness of diagnosing autism disorder spectrum (ASD) and exploring How do healthcare access, cultural beliefs, and socioeconomic factors affect the early identification of autism.
METHODOLOGY
A qualitative interview study research design was conducted, involving the collecti Mothers who have one specific autistic child and also mothers who have more than one autistic Child and still in a denial situation.
This study was also collected from autistic school centers in Depth interview.
This study site was chosen at autistic schools centers at Hargeisa, Somaliland and the site was chosen for several reasons:
The selection of autistics school centers as the site for this study is based on its relevance to the Research topic, accessibility, availability of participants, ethical considerations, community Engagement, and alignment with the literature by conducting the study in autistic school centers, the research aims to generate meaningful and contextually grounded findings that contribute to knowledge advancement in the field.
RESULTS
This charts interprets that the most frequent age category is the 14-18 years due to the delayed diagnosis and identification is apparently seen
? 6-9 and 10-13 years are closely age years which can b characterized as same
? Despite the fact, 0-5 years ages are accurate age to diagnose yet our community doesn't release it much to characterize it as autism
? The findings shows that parents who have autistics children are eally hard for them to accept the fact that their children are actually suffering from autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or most of them in a denial situation.
? major challenges identified in this research is parental denial or delay in recognizing the early signs of autism
? neighbors are keeping away their children from the autistic children on the playground, resulting where parents of the autistic children feeling guilty or in shame position
CONCLUSION
This study highlights the importance of timely diagnosis and intervention during the early years, emphasizing that children who receive early support are more likely to develop essential social, communication, and adaptive skills.
Also this study demonstrates that integrating multiple behavior and biological markers improves the accuracy of diagnosing autism among children under three years old
There is still a need for comprehensive efforts to educate parents, reduce stigma, and address disparities in access to care. By focusing on early diagnosis and intervention, we can ensure that children with austim receive the support they need to reach their full potential.
