Anthropological and Socio-Economic Issues Faced By Autistic Patients and Their Families

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue X, October 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

 Anthropological and Socio-Economic Issues Faced By Autistic Patients and Their Families

S.D.Y. Jayarathne

 Department of Anthropology, University of Sri Jayewardhanepura, Sri Lanka

Abstract: – Autism is a biological disorder coming from the brain that impairs people’s communication and their social skills. Main objective of this study was to determine the anthropological and attitudinal issues faced by Autism patients and their families by their social groups. Descriptive cross-sectional study was selected as the research design of this research. The descriptive cross-sectional design, data was collected using following tools, Interviews – Semi structured interviews / Observation – Participant as observer. Research was conducted using multi sites from Western and North Western Provinces. In depth interview questionnaire guideline was used to collect information from doctors and nurses.In Attitude perspective, People have started to see in a different manner than before without their religious, cultural, ethical spectacles about these kind of medical conditions. In social and economical perspective, people have started to see in a different manner than before without their religious, cultural, ethical spectacles about these kind of medical conditions.

Keywords: Physical Anthropology, Mental Disorders, Autism spectrum disorder, Cultural Anthropology

I. INTRODUCTION AND RESEARCH PROBLEM/ HYPOTHESIS

Autism is a biological disorder coming from the brain that impairs people’s communication and their social skills. It covers an exceedingly broad spectrum of disorders ranging from very mild to severe. Autistics are described to be living in their “own world” and the high functioning autistics usually have two worlds; the “outside world” and “their world”. Autism can be accompanied with having many serious sensory challenges, such as lack of verbal communication, lack of eye contact, and the inability to hear what others are saying. (Volkmar, F. R, 2007:30). This study was focused to determine the anthropological and sociological issues pertaining to Autism. Autism at present is becoming a social problem. With the increase in the patient numbers and without the proper knowledge and awareness of management techniques, the parents of these children are undergoing many problems in their families, and face economic and social problems. Therefore, this study was focused on finding the anthropological and sociological aspects of this disease to identify proper management techniques. The anthropological aspect deals with the people’s attitudes about the patients and their families, mainly of their attitudes about this disorder and the sociological aspect deals with the patient’s family background, economical status and social background.

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