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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Prevalence in Somali and Non-Somali Children

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Abstract

The current study presents results from an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) public health surveillance project conducted in Minneapolis. The study was designed to compare ASD prevalence in Somali children (ages 7–9) to that of non-Somali children. The study adapted methodology used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Results indicated that Somali (1 in 32) and White (1 in 36) children were about equally likely to be identified with ASD, but more likely to be identified with ASD than Black and Hispanic children. Somali children with ASD were significantly more likely to have an intellectual disability than children with ASD in all other racial and ethnic groups.

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Acknowledgments

The preparation of this report was supported by a cooperative agreement with the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) (Award No. CON000000031900) with additional funding provided by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education (U.S. Department of Education (Agreement Nos. H133B080005-09 and H133B130006) awarded to Research and Training Center on Community Living, Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota. Additional financial support contributed by Minnesota Department of Health and the Institute on Community Integration. Technical assistance and funding was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Autism Speaks, and managed through the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD). This study has been presented at IMFAR 2015 as well as several other local/regional conferences. The current study is not adapted from a dissertation. Our research team would also like to acknowledge the assistance of Dr. John Connett and Dr. Susan Brower (Minnesota State Demographer).

Funding

The preparation of this report was supported by a cooperative agreement with the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) (Award No. CON000000031900) with additional funding provided by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education (U.S. Department of Education (Agreement Nos. H133B080005-09 and H133B130006) awarded to Research and Training Center on Community Living, Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota. Additional financial support contributed by Minnesota Department of Health and the Institute on Community Integration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Training Center on Community Living (NIDRR), Institute on Community Integration (AIDD), MN LEND (MCHB), 150 Pillsbury Dr. SE, rm 214 Pattee Hall, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Amy Hewitt

  2. Institute on Community Integration (ICI), 150 Pillsbury Dr. SE, 204 Pattee Hall, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Jennifer Hall-Lande

  3. Institute on Community Integration, MN-ADDM, 150 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Kristin Hamre

  4. Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Amy N. Esler

  5. Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, PO Box 64882, Minnesota, MN, 55164-0882, USA

    Judy Punyko

  6. Departement of Speech-Lang-Hearing Sciences, University of Minnesota, 115 Shevlin Hall, 164 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Joe Reichle

  7. Research and Training Center on Community Living, Institute on Community Integration, University of MN, 111 Pattee Hall, 150 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Anab A. Gulaid

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  1. Amy Hewitt
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  2. Jennifer Hall-Lande
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  4. Amy N. Esler
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  7. Anab A. Gulaid
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer Hall-Lande.

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Conflict of interest

Amy Hewitt declares that she has no conflict of interest. Jennifer Hall-Lande declares that she has no conflict of interest. Kristin Hamre declares that she has no conflict of interest. Amy N. Esler declares that she has no conflict of interest. Judy Punyko declares that she has no conflict of interest. Joe Reichle declares that he has no conflict of interest. Anab A. Gulaid declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors. This study was a surveillance study of clinic and special education records. There was no direct contact with study participants. However, a passive (informed consent) process was included in the study in which a letter was sent home and families could decline participation.

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Hewitt, A., Hall-Lande, J., Hamre, K. et al. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Prevalence in Somali and Non-Somali Children. J Autism Dev Disord 46, 2599–2608 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2793-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2793-6

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