SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN PROFILE IN BANYUMAS DISTRICT, CENTRAL JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA Desiyani Nani1)*, Elisabeth Siti Herini2), Ahmad Hamim Sadewa2), Sri Hartini2), Indria Laksmi Gamayanti3), Dyla Annisa Putri1), Lita Heni Kusumawardani1)
1)Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto, Indonesia- 2)Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia- 3)Dr Sardjito Central General Hospital, Yogyakarta
Abstract
Introduction
Indonesia had increase the amount of children with special needs. Most of special needs biggest problem is related with social communication, especially social responsiveness impairment. Children with special needs are always claimed as people who are strange or have mental issues.
Objective
The aim of this study to identify the characteristic of special needs children and compare the social responsiveness between normal children and special needs population.
Methods
The study used cross sectional approach included 334 children consist of 245 normal children and 89 special needs children. Study population were in Banyumas district, Province of Central Java, Indonesia. Study used questionnaires that filled independently. Its content characteristics and social responsiveness and behavior factors using Indonesian version of modified Social Responsiveness Scale.
Results
Most of the children with special needs were boy and had a history of sickness or injuries during 5 y.o. From 89 special needs children, 53 children were diagnosed as autism, 11 children were cerebral palsy, 9 children were ADD/ADHD, 5 children with down syndrome, 2 children with mental retardation, and 9 children had other special needs diagnosed. Children with special needs also had SRS scores bigger than normal children (p=0,000) that indicated an impairment of social responsiveness.
Conclusions
Most children with special needs had an impairment of social responsiveness. Continuing screening and therapy will help children with special needs to have better social communication in the community.
Keywords: Social behavior, responsiveness, autism, special needs, communication
