Autism In Context : Familial Experiences, Quality Of Life, And Future Perspectives In Algeria
Keywords:
Autism, psychological experience of parents, parental reactions, siblings, quality of lifeAbstract
The incidence and prevalence of pervasive developmental disorders, particularly autism—with its etiology still far from fully understood, its polymorphic, complicated, and complex semiology, and its harmful consequences that affect not only the child but also the family dynamics as a whole and its functioning, which had been established until his arrival - appear to be among the major priorities of global health organizations, especially those concerned with the physical and mental health of the child and their family. Currently, the care of autistic children in Algeria presents challenges linked to the lack of resources, trained health professionals and suitable structures, but great progress and initiatives are underway to improve the situation. However, certain important and decisive aspects seem to be overlooked, minimized, or marginalized, such as the suffering of parents and families of children with autism, which remains underestimated and poorly taken into consideration, particularly within Algerian society. However, following the family's adaptations, it moves towards one of the two opposing poles: ″resilience″ and ″invasion″ by pathology. Our objective is to attempt to give meaning to and shed light on this particular suffering by seeking to answer the following questions: Who are these families, and what are their particularities? How do they organize themselves around the symptom of ″autism″? How do they present in consultation? What is the quality of life of the siblings? And finally, what is the reality and what are the perspectives of autism in Algeria?
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