Socio-demographic correlates of autism spectrum disorder: A study in Odisha

Background: There is very little data available on socio-demographic factors associated with the early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Aim: This study sought to investigate the socio-demographic correlates of ASD.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study of 201 first-time reported cases of ASD using a semi-structured socio-demographic datasheet was conducted to understand the socio-demographic correlates. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 26) was used to calculate frequencies, percentages, and Chi-square values.

Results: Descriptive analysis revealed an upward trend in the number of reported cases among both genders. Most cases were five years old or above, from middle socioeconomic background, with parents who had studied above matriculation, and lived in an urban area. Chi-square test results revealed a significant relationship between the number of first-time reported cases of ASD and that of parental education, socioeconomic status (SES), and living conditions.

Conclusion: A prominent finding of this study was parents' lack of awareness regarding their child's condition. Measures for awareness and early detection have been recommended.