PREVALENCE OF AUTISM IN CHILDREN FROM DISTRICT SHEIKHUPURA

AIZA ARSHED
Roll No: 1825138005
Session: 2018-2022
BS Zoology
Supervisor: Dr. Shagugta Naz
________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
LAHORE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN UNIVERSITY,
LAHORE
2022
 INTRODUCTION

(b)
Autism interaction
Spectrum (a) impaired
and
Disorder is social
restricted
defined by communicat
and/or
two ion and/or
repetitive
categories: behaviors
• Autism is a neurodevelopmental syndrome.
• Restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are hallmark symptoms of ASDs.
• People with ASD commonly have language & communication difficulties.
• Causes of ASD include both genetic and environmental factors.

https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/uploads/media/default/0001/09/6613b16c1541bcd54957081bd913ffa5d0065617.png
 CDC estimated that
autism affects 1 in 68
children.
Several standardized screening
ASD is more common in tools exist to diagnose ASD like,
males, true male-to-female (STAT), (ADOS), (DISCO),
ratio is closer to 3:1. (CARS), (SCQ), (SRS), DSM-5
and M-CHAT.
ASD occurs in all racial, Many approaches are available to
ethnic, and socioeconomic improve the abilities and skills,
groups, but its diagnosis is far and quality of life of individuals
from uniform across these with ASD.
groups.

The prevalence of typical Current prevalence is

autism across the world is estimated to be at least
generally reported to be 10 1.5% in developed
per 10,000. countries
 AIMS & OBJECTIVES

Find the prevalence

The aim of the study
was to observe the
prevalence of Autism
Spectrum Disorder in The Objectives
different special
education centers and
Autism centres of
Sheikhupura.
of ASD in special
education institutes
of Sheikhupura.
Assess the severity of
were to: ASD in Children.
Examine the
characteristics of
ASD in Children
using CARS test.
 REVIEW OF LITERATURE
According to a
According to the up- Analyses indicated
recent study by
to-date global that the prevalence
ASD prevalence in Autism Spectrum
estimate of ASD of ASD in Asia,
East Asia (0.51%) is Disorders in Europe
prevalence, studies America, Europe,
higher than that in (ASDEU) on the
revealed a median Africa and Australia
West Asia (0.35%) prevalence of
prevalence of was 0.4% , 1%,
and South Asia autism in 11
65/10,000 0.5% , 1% , 1.7%
(0.31%). Member States,
(Christensen et respectively
around 1 child in 89
al., 2019). (Salari et al., 2022).
has ASD.
About 1 in 44 children
has been identified
The overall with autism spectrum
According to a disorder (ASD) in
prevalence of ASD
study the prevalence United States
is 0.36% in Asia
of ASD in the world according to estimates
(Shuang et al., from CDC’s Autism
was 0.6% 
2020). and Developmental
Disabilities Monitoring
(ADDM) Network. 
 Data on the
incidence,
prevalence, and
About 0.08% of the Males are 3.5 times
impact of ASD in
total population of more likely than
South Africa are
Australia can be females to be on the
almost entirely
considered to be spectrum (prevalence
lacking. No
Autistic. rates of 1.3% and
epidemiological
0.4% respectively).
studies of ASD have
been conducted in the
country.
 MATERIALS & METHODS

A pre-defined
questionnaire was
A study sample of 100 filled out by the The Diagnostic Tools Analysis was
autistic children (50 teachers of the such as CARS performed by SPSS
males, 50 females) students, covering (Childhood Autism 26. Percentages were
aged 3 to 17 years was gender, age, group, Rating Scale) was calculated. Chi-Square
collected from socioeconomic status, used. This test has (χ2) was used to
different Special residence, parent’s 75% content validity, test the association
Education Centers and relationship, 76% reliability, its between two
Autism centers of partnership status of sensitivity is 81%, and qualitative
Sheikhupura. parents and Childhood its specificity is 87%. parameters.
Autism Rating Scale
(CARS).
 RESULTS

The relationship of various

Our survey of various special
variables (age, gender,
education institutes and autism
socioeconomic status, parent’s
centers revealed a final sample of
relationship, partnership status of
100 children whose teachers and
parents of autistic children)was
parents/guardians volunteered to
observed with 15 parameters of
take part in the study, who were
the Childhood Autism Rating
identified by the psychologist of
Scale (CARS) and the results are
respective institution.
given.
 Prevalence of ASD in children by Age

Table 1: Chi square table; shows the association of

Age with Emotional response in children with ASD.
Chi-Square Tests
  Value df Asymptotic
Significance
(2-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 24.788a 8 .002
Likelihood Ratio 27.129 8 .001
Linear-by-Linear 11.930 1 .001
Association

Figure 4.1: Bar chart shows the association of age

with general impressions of children with ASD.
 Prevalence of ASD in children by Residence

Table 2: Chi-square test table; shows the association of

residence with listening response of children with ASD.
Chi-Square Tests
  Value df Asymptotic
Significance
(2-sided)
Pearson Chi- 5.953a 2 .051
Square
Likelihood Ratio 6.105 2 .047
N of Valid Cases 100    

Figure 2: Bar chart representing the association of residence

with fear and nervousness in children with ASD.
 Prevalence of ASD in children by Socioeconomic status

Table 3: Chi square table; shows the association of

socioeconomic status with object use in children with ASD.

Chi-Square Tests
  Value Df Asymptotic
Significance
(2-sided)
Pearson Chi- 9.419a 4 .051
Square
Likelihood Ratio 10.130 4 .038
N of Valid Cases 100    

Figure 3: Bar chart representing the association of

socioeconomic status with fear and nervousness in children
with ASD.
 Prevalence of ASD in children by Gender

Table 4: Chi square table; shows the association of gender and

the level of relatedness of children with ASD with other people.
Chi-Square Tests
  Value Df Asymptotic
Significance
(2-sided)

Pearson Chi- 9.448a 2 .009

Square
Likelihood Ratio 9.644 2 .008
N of Valid Cases 100    

Figure 4: Bar chart representing the association of gender

with taste, smell and touch response and use in children
with ASD.
 Table 5: Chi square table; shows the association of gender
with verbal communication in children with ASD.
Chi-Square Tests
  Value df Asymptotic
Significance
(2-sided)
Pearson Chi- 6.252a 2 .044
Square
Likelihood Ratio 6.393 2 .041

N of Valid Cases 100    

Figure 5: Bar chart representing the association of gender

with adaptation to change by children with ASD.
Table 6: Chi square table; shows the association of gender
with activity level of children with ASD.
Chi-Square Tests
  Value df Asymptotic
Significance
(2-sided)
Pearson Chi- 6.789a 2 .034
Square
Likelihood Ratio 6.975 2 .031

N of Valid Cases 100    

Figure 6: Bar chart representing the association of gender

with general impressions of children with ASD.
 
 Prevalence of ASD in children in association to
their Parent’s relationship
Table 7: Chi square table; shows the association of parent’s
relationship and the level of relatedness of children with
ASD with other people.
Chi-Square Tests
  Value df Asympto
tic
Significa
nce (2-
sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 7.659a 2 .022
Likelihood Ratio 7.692 2 .021
N of Valid Cases 100    
Figure 7: Bar chart representing the association of parent’s
relationship with emotional response of children with
Table 7: Chi square table; shows the association of parent’s
relationship and visual response of children with ASD.

Chi-Square Tests
  Value df Asymptotic
Significance
(2-sided)

Pearson Chi- 6.246a 2 .044

Square
Likelihood Ratio 6.307 2 .043
N of Valid Cases 100    

Figure 7: Bar chart representing the association of parent’s

relationship with taste, smell and touch response and use in
children with ASD.
Table 8: Chi square table; shows the association of parent’s
relationship and listening response of children with ASD.

Chi-Square Tests
  Value Df Asymptotic
Significance
(2-sided)
Pearson Chi- 12.059a 2 .002
Square
Likelihood Ratio 12.512 2 .002
N of Valid Cases 100    

Figure 8: Bar chart representing the association of parent’s

relationship with level and consistency of intellectual
response of children with ASD.
 DISCUSSION
• Autism is a complex disorder with varying degrees of impairment in areas like
communication skills, social interactions, and restricted, repetitive, or stereotyped
patterns of behavior (Jepson and Johnson, 2007).
• Causes of ASD include both genetic and environmental factors. Several standardized
screening tools exist to diagnose ASD.
• Current prevalence of ASD is estimated to be at least 1.5% in developed countries.
• The aim of the present study was to find out the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder
(using CARS test) in children aged 3-17 years in clinical settings.
• Many of the parameters of CARS test showed association with the age , socioeconomic
status, gender, residence, and partnership status of parents and while on the other hand
none of the factors of CARS parameters (e.g., emotional response, body use, activity level
,.etc) showed association with parent’s relationship.
• The prevalence of autism in children with age range of 3-5 years is 14%, the prevalence is
29% in children with age range of 6-8 years, similarly the prevalence percentages for age
range of (9-11 years, 12-14 years, 15-17 years) are (25%, 17% and 15%) respectively.
• It was also observed that with increasing age the symptoms of autism get worsen.
• Studies in Asia, Europe, and North America have identified individuals with ASD with an
average prevalence of between 1% and 2% (CDC, 2016).
• The prevalence was significantly higher among children residing in rural areas as compared
to urban areas. This was in contrast to an Arab study.
• The data shows the percentage of male to female ratio of 50% that is due the small sample
size while the actual male/female ratio world-wide is 3:1 (Loomes et al., 2017).
• About 19% prevalence of autism was observed in children of upper class families, 77 %
prevalence of autism was observed in children of middle class families, and 4% prevalence
of autism in children of lower class families.
 CONCLUSION
• Analysis of results suggested that many parameters of CARS test were affected by age and
gender of the children with ASD majorly,

• While residence, socioeconomic status, partnership status of parent’s were also seemed to
have effect on CARS parameters,

• And parent’s relationship of children with ASD did not affect any of the parameters. The
findings of the study would be useful in implementing appropriate treatment and
awareness method and would contribute in providing a better life to Autistic patients.
 REFERENCES
• Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network Surveillance Year 2010
Principal Investigators. 2014. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged
8 years—autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States,
2010. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Surveillance Summaries, 63(2): 1 - 21.
• Hodges, H., Fealko, C., and Soares, N. 2020. Autism spectrum disorder: definition,
epidemiology, causes, and clinical evaluation. Translational Pediatrics, 9(Suppl 1): S55 -
S65.
• Qiu, S., Lu, Y., Li, Y., Shi, J., Cui, H., Gu, Y., ... & Qiao, Y. (2020). Prevalence of autism
spectrum disorder in Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry research, 284:
112679.
• Zeidan, J., Fombonne, E., Scorah, J., Ibrahim, A., Durkin, M. S., Saxena, S., and Elsabbagh,
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 ANY
QUESTION
S?
THANK
YOU!