Prevalence and socioeconomic correlates of autism among children attending  primary and secondary schools in south east Nigeria

Josephat M. Chinawa, Pius C. Manyike, Elias C. Aniwada, Awoere T. Chinawa, Herbert A.Obu, Odutola I. Odetunde , Ada R.C. Nwokocha, Roland R. Ibekwe
1. College of Medicine, Department of pediatrics, University of Nigeria/ University of Nigeria Teaching
Hospital (UNTH), Ituku- Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria.
2. Federal Teaching Hospital
3. (Epid& Med Stat), FWACP, FMCPH Lecturer, College of Community medicine, University of Nigeria/
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku- Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria.
4. Chinawa Awoere Tamunosiki (MBBS, FMCPH) Consultant community Physician Enugu state University
Teaching Hospital Enugu State, Nigeria.
5. Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria/ University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH),
Ituku- Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria.
6. College of Medicine,Department of pediatrics, University of Nigeria/ University of Nigeria Teaching
Hospital (UNTH), Ituku- Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria.
7. College of Medicine, Department of pediatrics, University of Nigeria/ University of Nigeria Teaching
Hospital (UNTH), Ituku- Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria.
8. Department of pediatrics, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu.

Abstract
Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence and socio-economic determinants of autism among  children attending primary and secondary schools in South East, Nigeria.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that assessed the prevalence and socio-economic pattern of childhood autism among children attending primary and secondary schools in Enugu and Ebonyi states, South East Nigeria. The questionnaire was adapted from American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). The study was carried out between June and October, 2014.The schools were selected by listing all the mixed schools in the urban and semi- urban areas by simple random sampling.

Results: A total of 721 subjects completed the questionnaire. The age of respondents ranged between 3 and 18 years, with mean age of 12.71 and standard deviation of 3.03 years. Twenty one children fulfilled the criteria for autism giving a prevalence of 2.9%. There is a significant association between age in categories (fishers exact test, p = 0.013) and social class (p=0.033).

Conclusion: The prevalence of autism was 2.9%; and the socio-economic characteristics of childhood autism in South East  Nigeria are similar to those in other parts of the world.

Keywords: Childhood autism; primary and secondary schools; Nigeria