Dados do Trabalho

Título

IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER

Resumo

Introduction: Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) comprises difficulties in social interaction and communication, as well as restrictive patterns and repetitive behavior. In the current pandemic, usual care, routine and activities directed to children with ASD changed due to preventive measures such as social distancing. With that, these children and their caregivers went through great stress, reflecting on different aspects of their lives. Goal: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with ASD and their caregivers. Methodology: A review was made utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) of published studies that assess changes in the well-being of children with ASD and their families during the Pandemic around the world and in Brazil, ranking each article according their Risk of Bias, upon which only the "Good" and "Regular" articles were utilized. Results: 161 articles were found upon inicial search, of which 17 were selected. Amid the findings, there was an increase in symptoms related to ASD, greater difficulty in managing emotions, and the absence of school support was directly associated with an increase in behavioral problems. There was also a reduction in physical activities, increased screen time and changes in sleep habits. In most cases, the main caregiver was female, and among caregivers occurred an increase in their burden and their fears surrounding the pandemic, along with stress and mental health detriments, such as an increase in anxiety, depression and less time for self care. Conclusion: The pandemic can enhance inequalities for children in vulnerable groups, so it is essential to support the well-being of ASD children and their families as we emerge in this new way of living, focusing on making policies and approaches with individualized multidisciplinary planning, psychological resources and increased services for families in order to facilitate reintegration and ensure the development of the children. It is also important to make further studies to assess the effects of the pandemic.

Palavras Chave

Autistic Spectrum Disorder; Pandemic; COVID-19