title: Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Nurseries in Lebanon: A Cross Sectional Study.
abstract: In Lebanon, no estimate for autism prevalence exists. This cross-sectional study examines the prevalence of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in toddlers in nurseries in Beirut and Mount-Lebanon. The final sample included 998 toddlers (16-48 months) from 177 nurseries. We sent parents the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) for screening, and a self-administered questionnaire (associated factors). We imputed missing M-CHAT data with successful answers. Since there were no follow-up interviews for the M-CHAT, we used the positive predictive value (0.058) from a large study for prevalence estimates. ASD prevalence was 1 in 66 children (comparable to US). Ratios were: male/female: 1.05; Beirut/Mount-Lebanon: 1.2. Using a more representative sample and ascertaining results are needed for better prevalence estimates in Lebanon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO-box 11-0236, Riad El Solh Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon. ds39@aub.edu.lb.
authors.forename: Dahlia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saab
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Fadi T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Maalouf
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO-box 11-0236, Riad El Solh Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon.|Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Rose-Mary
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Boustany
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009724:Nurseries, Infant; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD); Beirut; Mount Lebanon; Nurseries; Prevalence; Toddlers