PREVALENCE OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AMONG SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN IN MALAYSIA: ANALYSIS BY AGE AND STATES

• Published in: Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine
• Main Author: Shair S.N.; Zaki N.R.; Mohd M.A.; Amin M.N.M.; Abidin A.W.Z.; Ahmad S.; Jamil N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85216248111&partnerID=40&md5=694959a2cab92abd35889f878e4181fd

The prevalence of autism among school children has been reported to be increasing globally. This study aims to estimate the prevalence rates of autism among school-age children in Malaysia and analyse its trends by age and state over the years. Data comprises the number of autistic students and the total number of students for every school in Malaysia obtained from the Ministry of Education (MOE) in five years from 2018 to 2022. These data were divided into 5 to 6 years old (preschool), 7 to 12 years old (primary school), and 13 to 17 years old (secondary school). Results revealed that the overall prevalence of autism among Malaysian school-age children increased significantly from 6.34 per 1,000 children in 2018 to 9.29 per 1,000 children in 2022. The prevalence of autism was the highest among primary school children compared to those in preschool and secondary school children. Comparisons between states indicate that the Federal Territories of Labuan has the highest rates of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence, followed by the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, the lowest autism prevalence rates among school-age children were reported in Kelantan and Terengganu from 2018 to 2022. This study provides first-hand information about the prevalence rate of autism among school-age children in Malaysia. This information is crucial in preparing for resource allocation and support programmes to meet the educational needs of children with autism effectively. © (2024), (Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association). All rights reserved.