Disability and Health Journal
Volume 5, Issue 1 , Pages 18-25, January 2012

Association between parental nativity and autism spectrum disorder among US-born non-Hispanic white and Hispanic children, 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health

  • Laura A. Schieve, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: MS E-86, 1600 Clifton Road.
    • ,
  • Sheree L. Boulet, Dr.P.H.

      Affiliations

    • National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
    • ,
  • Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD 20782, USA
    • ,
  • Michael D. Kogan, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, MD 20857, USA
    • ,
  • Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
    • ,
  • Coleen A. Boyle, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
    • ,
  • Susanna N. Visser, M.S.

      Affiliations

    • National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
    • ,
  • Catherine Rice, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA

published online 04 November 2011.

Abstract 

Background

Limited studies suggest the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) varies by whether maternal and child birth country are discordant.

Objective/Hypothesis

We explored associations between ASD and maternal and paternal nativity in a sample of US-born non-Hispanic white (NHW, n = 37,265) and US-born Hispanic (n = 4,690) children in the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH).

Methods

We assessed ASD prevalence within race-ethnicity and parental nativity subgroups. Prevalence ratios (aPR), comparing each group to NHW children with 2 US-born parents, were adjusted for child age, sex, and receipt of care in a medical home. Estimates were weighted to reflect US noninstitutionalized children. Standard errors were adjusted to account for the complex sample design.

Results

In NHW children with 2 US-born parents, ASD prevalence was 1.19%; estimates were similar for NHW children with a foreign-born mother or father. There was a striking heterogeneity between Hispanic children with 2 US-born versus 2 foreign-born parents (ASD prevalence 2.39% versus 0.31%, p = .05). Even after adjustment, PRs comparing ASD prevalence in Hispanic versus NHW children were vastly different for Hispanic subgroups, suggesting a substantially lower prevalence for Hispanic children with both parents foreign-born (aPR 0.2, 95% confidence interval 0.1-0.5) and a higher prevalence for Hispanic children with both parents US-born (aPR 2.0 [0.8-4.6]).

Conclusions

Previous studies comparing ASD prevalence between NHW and Hispanic children based on a composite Hispanic grouping without consideration of parental nativity likely missed important differences between these racial-ethnic groups. Continuing efforts toward improving early identification in Hispanic children are needed.

Keywords: Autistic disorder, Developmental disabilities, Prevalence, Population group, Race, Hispanic, Place of birth

 

 The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Catherine Rice conducts a limited number of training sessions to professionals on the diagnosis of the autism spectrum disorders as an approved outside activity separate from employment with the Federal government. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.

PII: S1936-6574(11)00072-0

doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2011.09.001

Disability and Health Journal
Volume 5, Issue 1 , Pages 18-25, January 2012

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