User:Holnesjc5773/Epidemiology of autism

Prevalence of Autism Between Non-White Children and White Children in the United States

Disparities in Autism diagnoses are prevalent among minority racial groups and low socioeconomic status. Non-hispanic white children are more likely to be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder than hispanic or Black children. Very few studies have been done as to whether an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis is directly correlated with race and ethnicity and/or socioeconomic status. However, current ecological studies have seen patterns that children from higher socioeconomic statuses tend to be more likely diagnosed with autism because of their access to healthcare. Meanwhile, non-white children lack the same access to healthcare and are less likely to be diagnosed with autism.

Africa

The Lack of Present-Day Data

The lack of data on Autism in Africa, South America, and other low-income countries/continents comes from the lack of resources. However, that is not to say that these individuals in this country do not have autism, but rather are in environments that lack the resources and facilities to diagnose and treat Autism Spectrum Disorders. Countries within Africa like Nigeria, the most populated country on the continent, do not have support through policies or facilities to treat, diagnose, or support individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities like autism. The United Nations notes that many African countries typically only define disabilities as physical and visible, not mental, cognitive, neuro-developmental, or invisible.[]

Research notes that several reasons have impacted present-day data, such as "stigma, ignorance about ASD, negative cultural practices, tortuous or delayed pathways to care, inadequate number of trained personnel, inadequate health care facilities, poor access to existing facilities, and burden of care which may include both financial and psychological factors."

Past Data

Cases of autism have been studied and observed in the past. A prevalence study documented by a psychologist in the 1970s, Lotter, about autism in several African countries with other case reports from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Ghana. Lotter's study concluded there was a prevalence of ASD in about 1 in 145 children with intellectual disabilities in several Sub-Saharan African countries. Furthermore, studies in immigration have shown that the prevalence of autism may be higher than estimated. Somali women who migrated to Sweden have reported the frequency of autistic children three to four times more likely than that of Swedish mothers. Supposed associations with immigrants may predispose children to ASD, like low vitamin D in dark skin or perinatal infections. Additionally, ASD is known to be a heritable neurodevelopmental disorder with more than 100 genetic polymorphisms associated with it. Africa has the greatest genetic diversity than other continents and genetic studies of autism in Africa can provide more detail to the pathogenesis of the disorder and into gene–environment interactions.

Nigeria

Due to a lack of overall data across a majority of African countries, other studies that have focused on the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders have been informed by overall research in Sub-Saharan African Countries. Nigeria has had multiple studies informing the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder across the country in different settings.

Several studies have been conducted in different regions of Nigeria finding prevalence results differing among different settings. In a mental hospital clinic, out of a total of 393 children, a prevalence of 0.8% was recorded. Other studies were conducted in Nigeria on the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in clinical settings, among children with other neurodevelopment disabilities, and the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder among children in mainstream schools. []

Children with comorbid conditions were more likely to have Autism Spectrum Disorder. Between Southeast and Southwest Nigeria in private schools for children with intellectual disabilities, there was connecting data with a prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in children with co-morbid neurodevelopment problems and intellectual disabilities to range from 11.4% to 14.8%. Other forms of studies showed that in communities in Lagos, Nigeria in a sample of 85 children with co-morbid conditions, there was a prevalence of 34.5% ASD.

In mainstream schools in Southeastern Nigeria, a prevalence of ASD was documented to be 2.9% among three to 18 year-old children in a total of 721 subjects. The data was collected through surveys from parents, older children, or through reading assistance from teachers, parents, or reading specialists.

South America

Similarly to data representative of African countries, South American countries also tend to lack present-day information on the prevalence of Autism across South American countries. However, while the prevalence of Autism in South America is not as well-recorded, the factors that affect individuals with Autistic children are well-recorded.[]

Social Impact of Prevalence for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Social factors play a large role in the diagnosis and intervention of Autistic children. Diagnosis requires access to healthcare facilities suited to diagnose and treat children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. However, in some regions such as South America and Africa, there lacks policy initiatives and community support for neurobiological disabilities within communities. Other impacts on the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder are stigma, cultural implications, care costs, and so on. In a study done with over 2,000 caretakers of Autistic children, many cited significant barriers: half stated waitlists, over 30% cited treatment costs, and over 26% had issues with lack of specialized services. Other impacts are experiences with stigma, discrimination, financial issues, and loss of employment.

Autism Diagnosis and Maternal Race and Nativity

Research suggests that Autism Spectrum Disorder could be genetic, other research suggests that the race and nativity of a child's mother could lead to higher likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder. In a study conducted in 2014, the researchers found that evidence suggested maternal nativity to be an exposure factor for childhood autism. Their observations recorded higher risks of autism in children of Black, Central and South American, Filipino, and Vietnamese migrants, as well as data that suggests that natural-born United States Black and Hispanic/Latina mothers were increased risks for autism spectrum disorder. Epidemiological studies have used migration studies to develop conclusion on genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the disease risk of certain diagnoses. The same study states that 22% of children born to immigrant parents have an attritubale cause for Autism Spectrum Disorder.