Prenatal Risk Factors for Autism: a selected school-based study in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

The incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is on the rise worldwide, but research on the risk factors of ASD in Bangladesh is limited. Several studies have shown a connection between prenatal complications and an increased risk of ASD. This study aimed to assess the prenatal risk factors associated with ASD by analyzing medical records and parent questionnaires from 72 individuals diagnosed with ASD. The findings revealed that certain prenatal risk factors, such as erythroblastosis, fetal anoxia, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth problems, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, cousin marriage, genetic disorders, and thyroid abnormalities, were associated with ASD. However, advanced maternal and paternal age were not identified as the primary causative factors for ASD in this study. A small number of parents had more than one child with autism. Male individuals were more affected by ASD compared to females, and the majority of cases were diagnosed during the preschool years, specifically between the ages of 5 and 10. In conclusion, specific prenatal factors were found to be directly involved as risk factors for ASD.  These findings emphasize the need for further investigation into these specific prenatal risk factors and their potential mechanisms of influence on ASD.