| Title: |
Bayesian Prevalence of Autism and Unmet Special Education Needs in Chile in a Sample of Three Million School-Age Children |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Andres Roman-Urrestarazu (ORCID 0000-0002-2405-9432); Adele Tyson (ORCID 0000-0003-0135-7397); Gabriel Gatica-Bahamonde (ORCID 0000-0001-6906-6540); Robin van Kessel; Justin Yang; Carola Mansilla; Isabel Zuniga; Alejandra Méndez-Fadol; Blanca Larrain; Ricardo Garcia; Damaris Koch; Tamsin Ford; Wim Groot; Milena Pavlova; Katarzyna Czabanowska (ORCID 0000-0002-3934-5589) |
| Source: |
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. 2025 29(10):2501-2512. |
| Availability: |
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
12 |
| Publication Date: |
2025 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Education Level: |
Elementary Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: |
Autism Spectrum Disorders; Special Education; Student Needs; Incidence; Student Characteristics; Elementary Secondary Education; Gender Differences; Ethnicity; Health Services; Foreign Countries; Students with Disabilities |
| Geographic Terms: |
Chile |
| DOI: |
10.1177/13623613251342310 |
| ISSN: |
1362-3613; 1461-7005 |
| Abstract: |
Autism spectrum disorder prevalence estimates in Latin America have been limited by a lack of reliable data. This cohort study aimed to estimate autism spectrum disorder prevalence in Chile by linking school registries with electronic health records. Probabilistic data linking was conducted between the 2021 Chilean school registry and 2003-2015 health records from the Araucania Sur Health Service. Bayesian prevalence estimation was used, considering variables such as age, sex, immigration status, ethnicity and rurality. Autism spectrum disorder prevalence across 29 health services was analysed for students aged 6 to 18 years. Regression models assessed unmet needs for special education services, validated using Araucania Sur Health Service health records. The study included 3,056,306 pupils (51.34% boys; mean age 11.6 years), with 14,549 having autism spectrum disorder. The national standardized school prevalence was 0.46%. Boys had 6 times higher odds of receiving special education services support than girls. In Araucania Sur Health Service, the adjusted clinical prevalence from health records was 1.22%. The Bayesian projected national autism spectrum disorder prevalence was 1.31%. This study, the largest of its kind in Latin America, revealed a higher autism spectrum disorder prevalence than previously reported, with one in 76 children affected. Disparities were observed across sex, ethnicity and health services. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2025 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1482896 |
| Database: |
ERIC |