Sociodemographic and Family Risk Factors among Autistic Children under Ten in Karbala: A Case-Control Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46649/09ykb914Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorder, sociodemographic factors, family risk factors, case-control study.Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered a neurodevelopmental condition identified by social communication deficits, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. Although the global prevalence of ASD is rising, there is limited data on the sociodemographic and family risk factors of ASD children in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq.
Objective: To identify sociodemographic and family-related risk factors among children under ten years of age with autism.
Methods: A total of 240 children were enrolled, including 80 diagnosed with ASD (cases) and 160 typically developing children (controls). Data were collected on age, gender, educational status, family structure, housing conditions, parental education and occupation, and health history. The chi-square and t-tests were used to identify significant differences between the groups.
Results: Children with ASD were significantly more likely to have never attended school and to live in single-parent or mother-only households compared to controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). No significant differences were found between groups in gender, age, number of siblings, or type of housing. Parental education and occupation did not differ significantly between groups. However, children with ASD had a significantly higher prevalence of developmental disorders and chronic health conditions (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively).
Conclusion: Autistic children were less likely to attend kindergarten or school, and the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, chronic diseases, and developmental disorders was higher among families of autistic children compared to those of non-autistic children.
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