Fear and stigma can prevent Somali families from accessing autism services
Feedback from our childhood immunisation outreach sessions with the Somali community indicated that some parents were worried about vaccinations causing autism. To address this concern, Healthwatch Islington held a workshop which included a talk from Dr Grace Xia, a CAMHS psychologist in Islington.
41% of Somali children are fully vaccinated for MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella), compared to 67% for other children in the borough.
Dr Xia talked about what autism is, common signs, how it is diagnosed, and common myths, including the idea that vaccines cause autism, and reassured parents that there is no scientific evidence for this.
We also heard from Samira, an NHS community coordinator and a member of the Somali community, who spoke about her own experience with autism. She shared the challenges she has faced in dealing with her diagnosis and the importance of understanding and accepting autism.
I now understand better why my daughter behaves the way she does, and I am confident there is no link between autism and vaccinations.
13 parents took part in the workshop and shared their experiences of raising autistic children. They spoke about challenges such as fear of being judged and not knowing how to access support. Many parents spoke about how stigma around autism can prevent families from accessing services, and that the workshop helped reassure them that there is no link between autism and vaccinations.
