Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume 5, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 29-42

The Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Children of Immigrant and Refugee Parents: Current Knowledge and Directions for Future Research (Review)

Abdullahi I. , Leonard H. , Cherian S. , Mutch R. , Glasson E.J. , de Klerk N. , Downs J.*
  • a Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, WA 6872, Australia, School of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
  • b Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, WA 6872, Australia
  • c School of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia, Department of General Paediatrics, Perth Children’s Hosptial, Perth, WA, Australia
  • d Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, WA 6872, Australia, School of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia, Department of General Paediatrics, Perth Children’s Hosptial, Perth, WA, Australia
  • e Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, WA 6872, Australia
  • f Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, WA 6872, Australia
  • g Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, WA 6872, Australia, School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia

Abstract

This paper systematically reviewed the literature from 2002 to 2016 describing the risks of autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children of immigrant and refugee backgrounds. Compared to children of non-immigrant mothers, 10 studies found increased risk of autism and intellectual disability and four studies found increased risk of autism without identifying concomitant intellectual disability. Very high risks were observed if the mother’s country of birth was a developing country or region. One study found higher risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a sample of children who were refugees. Children of immigrant and refugee backgrounds from developing countries had greater risks of a neurodevelopmental disorder compared to their peers whose mother was locally born. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Author Keywords

Immigrant Disability Children Refugee neurodevelopment

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041363986&doi=10.1007%2fs40489-017-0121-5&partnerID=40&md5=8c8e5694800d437e9825a680d90a0dea
DOI: 10.1007/s40489-017-0121-5
ISSN: 21957177
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English