Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Asian Countries

Abstract

Introduction: A series of complicated neurodevelopmental diseases known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are defined by symptoms that appear in the very early stages of life. The precise frequency of ASD in numerous Asian nations is unknown, despite its acknowledgement. Objective: This review aims to examine all ASD prevalence studies that have been conducted in this area in order to fill in any information gaps and to spot any weaknesses. Methodology: Online databases like PubMed and Google Scholar were used to extract the English-language papers published between 2012 and 2022. The search was conducted in accordance with PRISMA standards. Nine studies in all that satisfied the established inclusion criteria were included in our study. Results: In these investigations, the reported prevalence of autism ranged from 0.062% in Iran to 3.22% in Japan. In Saudi Arabia, the study's sample size was 1023, while in Iran, it was 1.32 million. Age ranged from one to thirty. The evaluation identifies variations in screening methods and diagnostic standards between the studies, making comparisons difficult. Conclusions: In developing Asian countries, accurate and reliable diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are essential for future policymaking. Further study is required to collect data for improved management, early intervention, and resource allocation in these regions due to the paucity of knowledge on the prevalence of ASD in various Asian nations.