Prevalence Of Autısm Spectrum Dısorders In Chıldren 18-36 Months

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of the study is to screen the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) of children between the ages of 18 and 36 months in the county of Van, İpekyolu, and examine the results in terms of some variables.

Materials and methods: It is a cross-sectional study. The sample of the study consisted of 521 children between the ages of 18-36 months, who were brought to the family health centers in the central İpekyolu district of Van between 01.04.2019-30-04.2019, who agreed to participate in the study, for vaccination and child surveillance. Modified Early Childhood Autism Screening Scale (M-CHAT) assessment test was used to screen children for ASD.

Results: The average age of the children participating in the study is 26.61 ± 5.91 months. The average age of the mothers is 26.45 ± 3.39 and the average age of the fathers is 29.79 ± 3.24 years. The high risk of autism in boys was 9.1%, and this rate was 7.6% in girls. As the level of mother education increases, the frequency of the child being found to be at high risk for ASD decreases as a result of the test. The high risk of autism is 11.2% in cesarean delivery and 6.0% in normal delivery. High risk of autism was found higher in children born by cesarean section. While the high risk of autism is highest in the second (56.8%) children, it is the lowest in the third and fourth children (11.4%). The frequency of being found to be at high risk for autism has increased in those whose monthly income is above the minimum wage. There was no significant difference between gender, father education level, number of siblings, mother and father health status and M-CHAT results. According to the psychiatric examination, only 6 cases of 44 children who were found to be M-CHAT positive were diagnosed with autism. In children diagnosed with autism, the male / female ratio was found to be 5/1. As a result of the study, the prevalence of general autism was found 11.5 per thousand.

Conclusion: When the data obtained in the study were evaluated, it was found that the incidence of ASD was higher than other studies in our country. For the early diagnosis of ASD, the detection of risky children with screening tests is important for the prognosis of the disease. Screening tests for children for the early diagnosis of ASD is important for the prognosis of the disease. It is necessary to identify children at risk of autism early and to support their development with early intervention programs, programs related to the subject and more comprehensive screening.