Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

CDC Kerala 14: Early Child Care Practices at Home Among Children (2–6 y) with Autism—A Case Control Study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
The Indian Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To compare early child care practices at home as possible risk factors among children between 2 and 6 y of age with autism and a control group of normal children without any symptom of autism, presenting at the well-baby/immunization clinic.

Methods

This case control study was undertaken at the autism clinic of CDC Kerala, comparing possible risk factors for autism among 143 children between 2 and 6 y with autism as per CARS criteria and a control group of 200 normal children of the same age from well-baby/immunization clinic of SAT hospital. The data was collected using a structured pre-piloted questionnaire, which included 11 questions administered by the same senior social scientist, on early child care practices at home that have been universally considered as important for child development.

Results

On multivariate analysis on early child care practices at home as possible risk factors for autism, it was observed that statistically significant high odds ratios were present for (i) no outings (OR = 3.36; 95 % CI: 1.39 – 8.16; p 0.007); (ii) child does not play with children of same age (OR = 19.57; 95 % CI: 9.50 - 40.32); (iii) do not tell stories/sing songs to the child (OR = 3.21; 95 % CI: 1.61 - 6.41); and (iv) breastfeeding duration nil/ < 6 mo (OR = 3.40; 95 % CI: 1.28 - 8.99).

Conclusions

This case control study involving 143 children between 2 and 6 y with autism as per CARS criteria and a control group of 200 normal children has shown that early child care practices at home, specifically breastfeeding duration nil/ < 6 mo, child does not play with children of same age, do not tell stories/sing songs to the child and no outings for the child are possible risk factors for autism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hanson MA, Gluckman PD. Developmental origins of health and disease: new insights. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2008;102:90–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Dietert RR, DeWitt J, Germolec DR, Zelikoff JT. Breaking patterns of environmentally-influenced disease for health risk reduction: immune perspectives. Environ Health Perspect. 2010;188:1091–9.

  3. Dietert RR, Dietert JM, Dewitt JC. Environmental risk factors for autism. Emerg Health Threats J. 2011;4:7111.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. Young children develop in an environment of relationships. National Scientific Council on the Developing Child 2006. From: http://develop-ingchild.net. Accessed on February 4, 2014

  5. DiPietro JA. Baby and the brain: advances in child development. Ann Rev Public Health. 2000;21:455–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Richter LM, Grieve KW. Home environment and cognitive development of black infants in impoverished South African families. Infant Mental Health J. 1991;12:88–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. Predicting individual differences in attention, memory, and planning in first graders from experiences at home, child care, and school. Dev Psychol. 2005;41:99–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Nair MKC, Prasanna GL, Jeyaseelan L, George B, Resmi VR, Sunitha RM. Validation of home screening questionnaire (HSQ) against home observation for the measurement of environment (HOME). Indian Pediatr. 2009;46:s55–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Lee LC, Harrington RA, Louie BB, Newschaffer CJ. Children with autism: quality of life and parental concerns. J Autism Dev Disord. 2008;38:1147–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Montes G, Halterman JS. Child care problems and employment among families with preschool-aged children with autism in the United States. Pediatrics. 2008;122:e202–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Stoltenberg C, Schjølberg S, Bresnahan M, Hornig M, Hirtz D, Dahl C, et al. The autism birth cohort: a paradigm for gene-environment-timing research. Mol Psychiatry. 2010;15:676–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and support received from staff of Child Development Centre, Kerala, specially Dr. G. Suresh Kumar, Registrar; Ms. Prasanna G.L, Developmental Therapist; Ms. Deepa N.R, PS to Director; Mr. Asokan N, PA to Director; Ms. Suja S, Junior Programmer; CDC, Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, in conduction of this study.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Source of Funding

This study is supported by Child Development Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child Development Centre, Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, 695011, Kerala, India

    Babu George, M. K. C. Nair & M. L. Leena

  2. School of Behavioural Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India

    M. S. Razeena Padmam

  3. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

    Paul Swamidhas Sudhakar Russell

Authors
  1. Babu George
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. S. Razeena Padmam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. K. C. Nair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. L. Leena
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Paul Swamidhas Sudhakar Russell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Babu George.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

George, B., Padmam, M.S.R., Nair, M.K.C. et al. CDC Kerala 14: Early Child Care Practices at Home Among Children (2–6 y) with Autism—A Case Control Study. Indian J Pediatr 81 (Suppl 2), 138–141 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-014-1602-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-014-1602-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation