Explaining low rates of autism among Hispanic schoolchildren in Texas.
In data from the Texas Educational Agency and the Health Resources and Services Administration, we found fewer autism diagnoses in school districts with higher percentages of Hispanic children. Our results are consistent with previous reports of autism rates 2 to 3 times as high among non-Hispanic Whites as among Hispanics. Socioeconomic factors failed to explain lower autism prevalence among Hispanic schoolchildren in Texas. These findings raise questions: Is autism underdiagnosed among Hispanics? Are there protective factors associated with Hispanic ethnicity?
Palmer
Raymond F
RF
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio TX 78229-3900, USA. palmer@uthscsa.edu
Walker
Tatjana
T
Mandell
David
D
Bayles
Bryan
B
Miller
Claudia S
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D006801:Humans; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data