Prenatal Factors Influencing the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study assessed prenatal risk factors that contribute significantly to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 400 online questionnaires were sent to the mothers who had children not older than 12 years of age. Only 76.25% of the questionnaires were fully complete, with 160 of the 305 mothers had a child with ASD while 145 had a neurotypical child. The risk factors were analyzed using binary logistic regression. The results showed four factors that contributed significantly (p < 0.05) to an increased risk of ASD. Mothers with relatives having ASD increased the risk five times to having a child with ASD. Mothers who were exposed to anesthesia and to X-ray in the first trimester also had a risk five times to having a child with ASD. Mothers who took folic acid during the first trimester decreased their risk 2.9 times to having a child with ASD. Further studies are needed to verify these findings and to investigate the effects of multiple factors on ASD.