Managing Feeding Problems in Persons with Autism using Behavioral Interventions

Background: This study examined the effectiveness of the behavioural intervention on feeding problems in persons with autism in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methodology: pretest-posttest, control group quasi-experimental research with a 2x2 factorial matrix. Data was collected with the Feeding Behavioral Analysis Test. Ten (10) persons with non-verbal autism and evidence of poor feeding habits (selectivity by food type) attending a residential school in Ibadan participated in the study. The one-way between-subjects Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to determine the effectiveness of the behavioural intervention.

Results: Positive reinforcement was effective in reducing feeding problems in children with autism (F (1, 7) = 3.023, p<0.05) compared to the control group (t (8)= -5.24, p <.05). Further analysis revealed a significant main effect of the age of the participants (F(1,7) = 5.343, p <0.05).

Conclusions: there is a need for teachers, counsellors, caregivers, parents, minders and clinical psychologists to adopt positive reinforcement in the management of feeding problems among persons with autism.

背景：本研究探讨了行为干预对尼日利亚伊巴丹地区自闭症患者进食问题的有效性。

方法论：采用前测-后测、对照组准实验设计及2×2因子矩阵。数据通过进食行为分析测试（Feeding Behavioral Analysis Test）收集。研究对象为10名在伊巴丹某寄宿学校就读的非言语自闭症患者，且均存在不良进食习惯（食物类型选择性）。采用单因素组间协方差分析（Analysis of Covariance, ANCOVA）评估行为干预的有效性。

结果：与对照组相比，阳性强化（positive reinforcement）可有效减少自闭症儿童的进食问题（F(1,7)=3.023，p<0.05）（t(8)=-5.24，p<0.05）。进一步分析显示，参与者年龄具有显著主效应（F(1,7)=5.343，p<0.05）。

结论：教师、咨询师、照料者、家长、看护人员及临床心理学家需在自闭症患者进食问题管理中采用阳性强化策略。