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Treating Anxiety and Social Deficits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Two Schools in Nairobi, Kenya

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Abstract

Anxiety in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) contributes to their functional impairment. We evaluated a cognitive-behavioral program for anxiety and social deficits in children with ASD in two schools in Nairobi City, Kenya. Parents and teachers of 40 children and adolescents with ASD (5–21 years) participated, randomized by school. The two schools were randomly assigned to either intervention (n = 20) or control (n = 20). There was a significant improvement in ASD severity as well as anxiety within the treatment group, which was not seen in the control group. These findings support the expansion of treatments for ASD core deficits and secondary problems in youth with ASD in develo** countries.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the students, parents, and teachers who participated in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, School of Education, Africa International University, Nairobi, 18437-00100, Kenya

    Niceta W. Ireri

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA

    Susan W. White

  3. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

    Anne W. Mbwayo

Authors
  1. Niceta W. Ireri
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  2. Susan W. White
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  3. Anne W. Mbwayo
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Contributions

NWI conceived of the study, participated in its design, coordination and data collection and drafted the manuscript and performed the statistical analysis; SWW participated in the design of the study, assisted with statistical analysis and interpretation, and writing of manuscript; AWM participated in the design and interpretation of the data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Niceta W. Ireri.

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Ireri, N.W., White, S.W. & Mbwayo, A.W. Treating Anxiety and Social Deficits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Two Schools in Nairobi, Kenya. J Autism Dev Disord 49, 3309–3315 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04045-6

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