Diagnosis of autism, abortion and the ethics of childcare in Yoruba culture.
This paper examines the ethics of childcare in Yoruba culture in the contexts of autism and abortion. The traditional Yoruba moral principles of ibikojuibi (equality of humans at birth) and ajowapo (solidarity) have been theoretically developed to establish the personhood of autistic children and provide a justification for not aborting foetuses with autism. Despite these justifications, this paper argues that there is a need for contextual rethinking, which would allow for: (i) prenatal genetic testing, as well as abortion of foetuses with a high risk of the autism mutation, and (ii) early clinical diagnosis and treatment of autistic children in contemporary Yoruba society.
Department of Philosophy, Lagos State University, Ojo Lagos State Nigeria.
Ademola Kazeem
AK
Fayemi
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000941:ethics*; D000349:Africa; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D000067576:Child Health; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000941:ethics*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D003469:Culture; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D028681:Moral Obligations; D028723:Personhood; D011247:Pregnancy; D028662:Principle-Based Ethics; D012306:Risk; D026712:Value of Life