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16-08-2023 | Original Paper

Autism Prevalence and the Intersectionality of Assigned Sex at Birth, Race, and Ethnicity on Age of Diagnosis

Auteurs: Jessica E. Goldblum, Tyler C. McFayden, Stephanie Bristol, Orla C. Putnam, Amanda Wylie, Clare Harrop

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 10/2024

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Abstract

Purpose

An official autism diagnosis is required to access timely intervention and is associated with better long-term wellbeing and mental health. Certain demographic characteristics, such as being female or a racially or ethnically minoritized youth, have been associated with significant diagnostic lag. However, it remains unclear how assigned sex, race, and ethnicity interact with each other in predicting the prevalence and age of autism diagnosis.

Methods

To examine the interactions between assigned sex, race, and ethnicity, we used data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH; 2016 > 2021).

Results

One in 38 children had an autism diagnosis and 3.8 males were diagnosed per 1 female. Hierarchical linear regressions yielded diagnostic delays in some females, particularly those who were non-Hispanic white, Black, and Asian. Ethnic and racial minority children had significantly earlier diagnoses than white and non-Hispanic children when not accounting for sex.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates slight increases in reported autism prevalence, a diagnostic lag in some autistic females that was strongly associated with ethnicity, and earlier diagnoses in racial and ethnic minority youth, a finding that may be explained by factors associated with phenotypic differences. This study has important implications for the diagnosis of minority autistic youth, particularly females and females who are non-Hispanic, who may experience a greater propensity for diagnostic delays.
Voetnoten
1
We use World Health Organization definitions for sex and gender: “sex” is genetically and biologically determined whereas “gender” represents a socio-cultural construct (“WHO | Gender and Genetics,” 2010). We use “male” and “female” to refer to biological sex assigned at birth.
 
2
Although we examine five years, research using NSCH found that the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly impact parent-reported autism prevalence from 2016 to 2021 (Wang et al., 2023).
 
3
To be consistent with APA formatting, we write decimals to the tenths place. Therefore, while our 95% confidence intervals spanned the value of each corresponding odds ratio, many did so in the hundredths place decimal or beyond so some may not appear to span the odds ratio value.
 
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Metagegevens
Titel
Autism Prevalence and the Intersectionality of Assigned Sex at Birth, Race, and Ethnicity on Age of Diagnosis
Auteurs
Jessica E. Goldblum
Tyler C. McFayden
Stephanie Bristol
Orla C. Putnam
Amanda Wylie
Clare Harrop
Publicatiedatum
16-08-2023
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 10/2024
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-06104-5