Author(s):
Conde, Ana Rita ; Mota, Pilar ; Botelho, Tânia ; Caldeira, Suzana ; Rego, Isabel ; Silva, Osvaldo ; Sousa, Áurea Sandra Toledo de ; Freitas, Carina ; De Barros Freitas, Carina Patrícia ; Freitas, Carina
Date: 2025
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.13/7316
Origin: DigitUMa - Repositório da Universidade da Madeira
Subject(s): ASD; Children; Prevalence; Portugal; Azores (Portugal); .; Faculdade de Ciências da Vida
Description
Abstract Prevalence studies are essential to provide objective indicators about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and are a source of information for public policies. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of ASD among children in the Azores Islands (Portugal). Administrative data on the number of children with a proven diagnosis of ASD were collected from all schools. Parents completed a questionnaire about the child’s sociodemographic characteristics, the diagnostic process, and clinical history. The overall prevalence of ASD in the Azores region was 9.92 per 1000 children, approximately equivalent to 1% (0.99). The prevalence of ASD in the Azores seems to be higher when compared with the global rate in Portugal, as well as with other regions of Europe. There appears to be a concentration of children with ASD in the region, and the results appear to support the hypothesis of a heritable predisposition to ASD.
