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Brief Report: Prevalence of Autistic Spectrum Disorders in the Sultanate of Oman

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Abstract

Prevalence of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) in Oman is unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional study to estimate the prevalence of ASD among 0–14 year old children. Diagnoses were made as per DSM-IV-TR criteria and supplemented with information collected with the standard Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) questionnaire. A total 113 cases of ASD were enumerated nationwide, indicating an overall prevalence of 1.4 (95% CI 1.2, 1.7) cases per 10,000 children aged 0–14 years. More prevalent cases were among boys (75%) and among low-income families. Ritualistic interests were more common among girls as an onset-symptom compared to boys (p = 0.03). The reported low prevalence of ASD in Oman is likely due to under-diagnosis and under-reporting.

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Acknowledgments

The project was supported by funds from Sultan Qaboos University, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, grant number IG/AGR/FOOD/10/01.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 35, Al-Khoudh, 123, Sultanate of Oman

    Yahya M. Al-Farsi, Omar A. Al-Farsi & Mohammed S. Al-Shafaee

  2. Department of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 35, Al-Khoudh, 123, Sultanate of Oman

    Marwan M. Al-Sharbati

  3. Boston University School of Public Health, MA, USA

    Daniel R. Brooks

  4. Sultan Qaboos University College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Al-Khoudh, Sultanate of Oman

    Mostafa I. Waly

Authors
  1. Yahya M. Al-Farsi
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  2. Marwan M. Al-Sharbati
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  3. Omar A. Al-Farsi
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  4. Mohammed S. Al-Shafaee
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  5. Daniel R. Brooks
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  6. Mostafa I. Waly
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yahya M. Al-Farsi.

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There has been no change in affiliation of any of the authors subsequent to the time of the study.

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Al-Farsi, Y.M., Al-Sharbati, M.M., Al-Farsi, O.A. et al. Brief Report: Prevalence of Autistic Spectrum Disorders in the Sultanate of Oman. J Autism Dev Disord 41, 821–825 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1094-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1094-8

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