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

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders volume 41, pages 821–825 (2011)Cite this article

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

Keywords

  • Autism
  • ASD
  • Prevalence
  • Symptoms
  • Oman