ArticleThe South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa2022
A population-based survey of autistic traits in Kenyan adolescents and young adults.
Article in The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 4 citations in OpenAlex.
- The association between autism and psychosis and the tools used to measure it: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.The British journal of clinical psychology · 2026Pooled it
- Adaptation and field testing of an observational assessment tool for autism diagnosis in Western Kenya.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Article
- Kenya Psychosis-Risk Outcomes Study (KePROS): Development of an Accelerated Medicine Partnership Schizophrenia-Aligned Project in Africa.Schizophrenia bulletin open · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Background: To date, there have been no large-scale population studies of autistic traits (AUT) conducted in Africa. Aim: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorders in a large sample of Kenyan adolescents and young adults. Setting: Tertiary academic institutions (87%) and directly from the community (13%). Methods: Our study surveyed 8918 youths (aged 15-25 years) using the autism spectrum quotient (AQ). Based on AQ scores, we derived groups with low (L-AUT), borderline (B-AUT), and high (H-AUT) autistic traits. Relationships of AUT with demographic factors, psychosis, affectivity and stress were investigated. Results: Internal consistency of the AQ in the population was excellent (Cronbach's α = 0.91). Across all participants, 0.63% were estimated as having H-AUT, while 14.9% had B-AUT. Amongst community youth, prevalence of H-AUT was 0.98%. Compared to those with low and borderline traits, H-AUT participants were more likely to be males, to have lower personal and parental educational attainment, and to be of a lower socioeconomic status. The H-AUT group also had higher psychotic and affective symptoms as well as higher psychosocial stress than other groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of H-AUT amongst Kenyan youth is comparable to Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rates in many countries. Autistic traits in Kenya are associated with worse social and clinical profiles. Further research on autism across Africa is needed to investigate cross-cultural heterogeneity of this disorder, and to guide healthcare policy.
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