Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo e fatores socioeconômicos e demográficos em uma população de crianças e adolescentes brasileiros

Abstract

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a clinical condition characterized by deficits in social communication; restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and unusual sensory behavior. Its etiology is multifactorial, with genetic and environmental factors involved. Studies exploring the impact of socioeconomic factors on health status, including ASD, have progressively increased. This is mainly related to the fact that this disorder is considered a public health problem, being among the top ten causes of disability worldwide in children between five and nine years of age and the constant increase in its prevalence. The present study aimed to investigate the association between ASD and socioeconomic / demographic factors in a population in northern Minas Gerais-Brazil. A case-control study was developed, consisting of 1134 children or adolescents, 248 with ASD and 886 without ASD. A semi structured questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument. To identify the factors associated with ASD, chi-square test was used in the bivariate analysis and a logistic regression model was adopted to perform the multiple analysis. Crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) were used to estimate the magnitude of the associations. Those with ASD are more likely to be: male (OR= 3.91; 95% CI: 2.67-5.68); children of mothers over 25 years of age (OR= 2.15; CI95 %: 1.50-3.09), who worked outside home during pregnancy (OR=1.52; 95% CI: 1.04-2.24) and were not part of the labor market during the interview (OR= 3.17; 95% CI: 2.44-5.65), white-skinned (OR=1.49; 95% CI: 1.01-2.22) and who performed prenatal care in private institutions ( OR=1.97; 95% CI: 1.38-2.80). It is notorious that the associations found may be related to better conditions of access to health services of the studied population, both for the search for diagnosis and for the treatment of ASD, not directly related to the etiology of this disorder. Only maternal age can be directly associated with the development of ASD and the diagnosis of this disorder. It is reinforced that the factors associated with ASD, in this study, are factors that facilitate access to health services and, therefore, are important for the diagnosis of ASD and for the increase in the number of reported cases. Thus, public policies are needed to allow equal access to the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.