Risk Factors Influencing of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children in Kirkuk City/ Iraq: A Case-Control Study

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex, lifelong developmental impairment that generally presents in early childhood; however, diagnosis often occurs later, particularly in cases of mild to moderate severity. Approximately one in every 100 children is affected by autism. The aim was to assess the risk factors associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) for children in Kirkuk City.

Methods: A convenience sample / case-control study was applied between November 2023 to December 2024. The study was conducted on 180 mothers (90 children diagnosed with ASDs based on the DSM-5 criteria, who were aged between 2-12 years as a case group, and 90 children were age and gender-matched control subjects. A questionnaire and interview were used as data collection tools. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used.

Results: The study found that most mother's education were college graduates representing (30%), with a significance of P=0.001. The majority of the mothers was housewife (70%). About 20(22.3%) of mothers had chronic hypertension and 16(17.8%) diabetes mellitus, and the study found that there was a highly significant association between family history of ASD, the interval between pregnancies, hyperemesis gravidarum and ASD at P=0.000.

Conclusion: The findings show that various risk factors are connected to autism spectrum disorder among children living in Kirkuk City. The most important of which was the Mother's Education level, the mother's Occupation and mothers with chronic Hypertension, and Family history of ASD, in addition to the father's age at conception and interval between pregnancies.