Clinical characteristics of autism spectrum disorder in Israel: impact of ethnic and social diversities.

Muhammad Mahajnah,Ashraf Akawi,Rajech Sharkia,Haitham Shalabe,Ruth Terkel-Dawer,Nathanel Zelnik

doi:10.1155/2015/962093

Abstract

Despite the increased global prevalence and recognition of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), it is still scarcely reported in the Arab world. Though Israel has a higher prevalence of ASD, a previous national survey of patients diagnosed between 1972 and 2004, demonstrated that 98% of them were of Jewish ancestry. The disproportional low number of Arab children with ASD in Israel is unclear but may reflect lower awareness and cultural bias. In the present study we collected clinical and demographic characteristics of 200 children with ASD from Arab and Jewish sectors in Israel that were evaluated in two child development centers. We compared the incidence and the medical comorbidity of autism between these two ethnics groups. The medical and psychiatric comorbidity profile in these children was similar to the worldwide published studies. In the present study the prevalence of autism in the Arab sector in Israel was similar to that of the Jewish sector. The Arab patients presented with more severe autistic manifestations and higher incidence of mental retardation, familial members with autism, and consanguinity (P < 0.05), while in the Jewish sector milder forms (such as Asperger syndrome and PDD-NOS) were more frequent. This discrepancy might be explained by both genetic and cultural factors.

Highlights

Autism is a medical term that encompasses a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired reciprocal socialization and communication, often accompanied with stereotyped ritualistic behavior
Data retrieved from the official website of the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS) showed that during 2011-2012 the number of children aged 0–7 years in our study area was 120,822 (73,900 Jews, 46,922 Arabs) [14]
Taking into consideration that approximately 40% are referred to our two child development centers means that in reality our centers provide medical service for 29,560 Jewish children and 18,768 Arab children

Summary

Introduction

Autism is a medical term that encompasses a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired reciprocal socialization and communication, often accompanied with stereotyped ritualistic behavior. The dramatic worldwide increase in the incidence of ASD during the last two decades might be related to environmental factors but is a result of more permissive clinical criteria as well as increased worldwide awareness of ASD by both medical and educational personnel [5,6,7]. This awareness has expanded throughout the whole world, including the Middle Eastern Arab world, where autism was rarely reported in the past [8, 9]. The disproportional low number of children from Arab communities in Israel

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion