What is Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Republic of Georgia?

INTRODUCTION: Despite the fact that 95% of all <5 years of age children with developmental disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) live in low- and middle-income countries (LAMI), to date there is an information gap in LAMI studies including Republic of Georgia. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence and describe the clinical characteristics of ASDs among the third-grade school students using a total population approach. METHODS: The target population (N=27,336) included all 3rd grade students of schools of five main cities of Georgia. The study was conducted in four steps: phase I screening, sampling of screen positive students, phase II confirmative diagnostic assessment, and best-estimate diagnosis. Parents and teachers completed two screening questionnaires in phase I: 27-item Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) and 25-item Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). In phase II, screen-positive children were evaluated using standardized diagnostic assessments. RESULTS: Overall, 16,654 students (82%) were assessed by either parent and/or teacher. Students whose ASSQ and/or SDQ scores were in the top 10(th) percentile were considered as screened positive for diagnostic assessment (N=1976). Of 300 students completed diagnostic assessment 53 were diagnosed ASD. Crude prevalence of ASDs was estimated to be 4.5%. 75% of cases of ASD were first diagnosed. Efforts are currently underway to compute adjusted prevalence, which will be available for the Conference presentation. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence data of ASD is important to assess the burden of the disorder and facilitate better understanding of specifics of the disorder in different part of the world. DISCLOSURE: No significant relationships.