AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN AGED 24-72 MONTHS IN QUANG NGAI PROVINCE

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disability developed in the young age and lasts during the lifetime. Early diagnosis and timely interventions will help improve the situation and reduce consequences caused to persons with ASD, their families and society. Objectives: (1) To describe the prevalence of ASD of the children aged 24 – 72 months Quang Ngai Province; (2) To analyse some factors related to ASD of the children aged 24 – 72 months in Quang Ngai Province. Methodology: Cross sectional research on a total sample size of 74,308 children aged 24 – 72 months in Quang Ngai Province in a period of September to December 2016; doing interview the parents or care givers on the children’s family socio-economic characteristics; all the children were screened to examine ASD signs and standards using red flag signs, Modified-Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Children were finally examined and clinically diagnosed using criteria Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5). Results: 280 children aged 24 – 72 months, account for 3.8‰, were detected as ASD. Among the children with ASD, 63.57% were diagnosed severe, 36.34% diagnosed medium and slight. The boys with ASD is 3.1 times higher than girls (p<0.01). The children with ASD in urban areas is almost two times higher than those in rural areas (p<0.01). No any statistically significant association between factors of ethnicity, religion, ages of pregnant mothers or mother’s smoking habits with the children with ASD. Conclusions: Children aged 24 – 72 months with ASD in Quang Ngai Province accounted for 3.8‰, rather similar to the ASD prevalence in other similar studies over the world. It is a need to more deeply study on some factors related to ASD among children aged 24-72 months in Quang Ngai province. Key words: Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, Red flag signs, M-CHAT, CARS