Research ArticleOriginal Article
Open Access

Prevalence and characteristics of autistic children attending autism centres in 2 major cities in Saudi Arabia

A cross-sectional study

Heba J. Sabbagh, Basma A. Al-Jabri, Malek A. Alsulami, Lutfi A. Hashem, Ala A. Aljubour and Rana A. Alamoudi
Saudi Medical Journal April 2021, 42 (4) 419-427; DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2021.42.4.20200630

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  • Table 1

    - Characteristics of included participants distributed according to sociodemographic variables and autism severity (N=205).

    VariableSeverity of autismTotal
    Mild (n=62)Moderate (n=106)Severe (n=37)
    Gender
      Male52 (83.9)79 (74.5)26 (70.3)157 (76.6)
      Female10 (16.1)27 (25.5)11 (29.7)48 (23.4)
      P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.162, 0.56 (0.25-1.26)0.114, 0.45 (0.17-1.2) 
    Child order
      1st child17 (27.4)30 (28.3)11 (29.7)58 (28.3)
      2nd or 3rd27 (43.5)32 (30.2)14 (37.8)73 (35.6)
      P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.320, 1.49 (0.68-3.26)0.518, 0.73 (0.28-1.86) 
      4th or more 44 (41.5)12 (32.4) 
      P-value, OR (95% CI)18 (29)0.427, 0.72 (0.32-1.62)0.959, 0.97 (0.34-2.78)74 (36.1)
    Paternal education
      High school or less37 (59.7)50 (47.2)16 (43.2)103 (50.2)
      More than high school25 (40.3)56 (52.8)21 (56.8)102 (49.8)
      P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.119, 0.60 (0.32-1.14)0.115, 0.515 (0.23-1.75) 
    Maternal education
      High school or less33 (53.2)53 (50.0)19 (51.4)105 (51.2)
      More than high school29 (46.8)53 (50.0)18 (48.6)100 (48.8)
      P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.686, 0.88 (0.47-1.65)0.856, 0.93 (0.4-2.1) 
    Family income
      <500016 (25.8)26 (24.5)11 (29.7)53 (25.9)
      5000-1500036 (58.1)64 (61.4)25 (67.6)125 (61)
      P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.53, 1.27 (0.59-2.72)0.980, 0.99 (0.39-2.5) 
      >15000 16 (15.1)1 (2.7) 
      P-value, OR (95% CI)10 (16.1)0.972, 01.06 (0.37-2.78)0.081, 6.8 (0.77-61.7)27 (13.2)
    Maternal occupation during pregnancy
      Yes10 (16.1)15 (14.2)7 (18.9)32 (15.6)
      No52 (83.9)91 (85.8)30 (81.1)173 (84.4)
      P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.728, 0.86 (0.36-2.05)0.720, 1.21 (0.42-3.52) 

    • Values are presented as number and percentage (%). OR: odds ratio, CI: Confidence interval

  • Table 2

    - Distribution of the participants according to child autism’s severity and parental agreement to maternal factors (N=205).

    VariablesSeverity of autism (%)Total
    Mild (n=62)Moderate (n=106)Severe (n=37)
    Planned pregnancy21 (33.9)37 (34.9)8 (21.6)66 (32.2)
    P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.892, 1.04 (0.54-2.03)0.198, 10.54 (0.21-1,38) 
    Fever3 (4.8)3 (2.8)1 (2.7)7 (3.4)
    P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.53, 0.59 (0.12-3.02)0.606, 0.54 (0.05-5.4) 
    Hypertension1 (1.6)6 (5.7)4 (10.8)11 (5.4)
    P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.231, 3.66 (0.43-31.13)0.071, 7.39 (0.7-68.9) 
    Diabetic4 (6.5)6 (5.7)1 (2.7)11 (5.4)
    P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.899, 0.87 (0.23-3.21)0.433, 0.41 (0.04-3.8) 
    Maternal medication during pregnancy1 (1.6)4 (3.8)1 (2.7)6 (2.9)
    P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.439, 2.39 (0.26-21.89)0.709, 1.69 (1.03-27.9) 
    2nd hand smoking24 (38.7)35 (33)13 (35.1)72 (35.1)
    P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.449, 0.78 (0.41-1.5)0.718, 0.85 (0.37-2) 

    • OR: odds ratio, CI: confidence interval

  • Table 3

    - Distribution of the participants according to child autism’s severity and their agreement to child factors (N=205).

    VariablesSeverity of autism (%)Total
    Mild (n=62)Moderate (n=106)Severe (n=37)
    Associated medical disorder15 (24.2)16 (15.1)9 (24.3)40 (19.5)
      P-value 0.1460.990 
      OR (95% CI) 1.8 (0.82-3.95)0.99 (0.38-2.57) 
    Type of associated medical disorder
      Epilepsy3 (4.8)10 (9.4)6 (16.2)19 (9)
      P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.289, 2.05 (0.54-7.75)0.069, 3.8 (0.89-16.3) 
      GIT17 (27.4)16 (15.1)11 (29.7)44 (21.4)
      P value, OR (95% CI) 0.055, 0.47 (0.22-1.02)0.801, 1.12 (0.45-2.75) 
      Disrupted sleep20 (32.3)31 (29.2)13 (35.1)64 (31.2)
      P-value, OR (95% CI) 0.681, 0.86 (0.44-1.71)0.770, 1.13 (0.48-2.69) 

    • OR: odds ratio, CI: confidence interval

  • Table 4

    - Distribution of the participants according to child autism’s severity and their frequency of family history and consanguinity (N=205).

    VariablesSeverity of autism (%)Total
    Mild (n=62)Moderate (n=106)Severe (n=37) 
    Consanguinity19 (30.6)48 (45.3)13 (36.1)80 (39)
      P value, OR (95% CI) 0.063, 1.87 (0.97-3.63)0.644, 1.23(0.56-2.91) 
    Family history for birth defect13 (21.9)35 (33.0)16 (43.2)64 (31.2)
      P value, OR (95% CI) 0.098, 1.86 (0.89-3.87)0.021*, 2.87 (1.18-7.01) 
    Family history of autism6 (9.7)16 (15.1)10 (27)32 (15.6)
      P value, OR (95% CI) 0.321, 1.66 (0.61-4.49)0.029*, 3.46 (1.14-10.5) 
    Family history for other medical conditions8 (12.9)16 (15.1)5 (13.5)29 (14.1)
      P value, OR (95% CI) 0.699, 1.2 (0.4-2.99)0.930, 1.05 (0.32-3.5) 
    Other medical conditions
      CP1102
      Down syndrome1405
      Delay speech3115
      Mental disability28414
      Growth deficiency0202
      Hearing defect1001

    • ↵* Significant at p≤0.05, OR: odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval

  • Appendix 1

    - Name of the centers that participated in part 2 of the project.

    Name of the centern (%)
    Jeddah CityMakkah City
    Eithar Center5 (3.3)0
    Nojoud Center1 (0.7)0
    Together1 (0.7)0
    Hope Center13 (8.6)0
    Alamal Almanshod Center5 (3.3)0
    Alnakheel Center11 (7.2)0
    Altanwir Center4 (2.6)4 (8.5)
    Altawasul Alnajih Center (3 centers)1 (0.7)27 (57.5)
    Tfaoul and Amal Center014 (29.8)
    Badghish9 (5.9)0
    The First Autism Center30 (19.8)2 (4.2)
    I Wii Be (3 centers)11 (7.3)0
    Joory Center11 (7.2)0
    Omnyate Center21 (13.8)0
    Skills Center1 (0.7)0
    Semsem Center31 (20.4)3 (6.5)
    Total155 (100.0)50
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