Sociodemographic factors in Arab children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
BACKGROUND
There is a critical gap in Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) research with respect to manifestations of the condition in developing countries This study examined the influence of sociodemographic variables on the severity of autistic symptoms and behavioral profile in Arab children.


METHODS
The total study sample comprised of 60 Arab children (38 boys and 22 girls) from three Arab countries (22 Jordanians, 19 Saudis and 19 Egyptians). The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) was based on DSM-IV criteria supplemented by direct observation according to the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA) and assessment of Intelligent Quotient (IQ). Finally, parents rated their child on the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).


RESULTS
It was found that the housewives and Saudi parents described more autistic symptoms and externalizing behavior problems. A significant negative correlation was found between IQ and each of ISAA, CBCL Internalizing and Externalizing problems scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The study concluded that the clinical presentation of ASD may be shaped by cultural factors that are likely to help to formulate specific diagnosis and intervention techniques in Arab children with ASD.
Assistant Prof. of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt.
Mostafa
M
Amr
WaleedAl
W
Bu Ali
Hatem
H
Hablas
Dahoud
D
Raddad
Fatma
F
El-Mehesh
Abdel-Hady
AH
El-Gilany
Hemdan
H
Al-Shamy
D000293:Adolescent; D018912:Arabs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
Autistic spectrum disorders; autistic symptoms; maladaptive behavior; socio-demographic variables