Perinatal and Background Risk Factors for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Indonesia Nani Desiyani1,2,*, Sadewa Ahmad Hamim3, Hartini Sri3, Herini Elisabeth Siti3 1Doctoral Student Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia 2Nursing Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto, Indonesia 3Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia *Corresponding Author: Desiyani Nani, Nursing Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of JenderalSoedirman, Purwokerto, Central Java, Indonesia, e-mail: desiyani.fahrudin@gmail.com, Phone number.: +62-(281) 642838, Mobile: (+6281392021989)
Online published on 4 April, 2020. Abstract Background Indonesia has experienced an increased number of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One of the challenges that Indonesia currently faces is how to reduce the perinatal and risk factors related with the incidence of autism. This study aimed to identify the perinatal and risk factors contributing to ASD. Method This research was a case control study involving 52 children with ASD in the case group and 201 normal children in the control group in Banyumas district, Province of Central Java, Indonesia. Data collection used independently completed questionnaires, concerning perinatal factors such as maternal age at birthing, gestational age, labor method, fetus presentation in labor, and history of complications during labor. Results Stepwise logistic regression analysis indicated a higher risk of preterm gestational age among children in the ASD group with p=0.019 and OR: 5.883. Abnormal delivery method such as caesarean delivery or vacuum extraction also had association with the ASD group (p=0.001; OR=0.303). Abnormal fetus presentation during labor increased the risk of ASD (p=0.004; OR: 6.908). Mother with complication during labor such as difficult labor, preeclampsia, and fetal distress correlated with ASD (p=0,.021; OR: 2.101). Multivariate analysis also showed complications during labor became a risk factor for ASD (OR: 2.142 (1.904–4.196). There was no correlation between maternal age below 20 years (p=0.332; OR=1.871) or 31–40 years (p=0.115; OR=2.868) with ASD. Conclusion Labor method, fetus presentation, and complication during labor were significantly related with ASD. Top Keywords Perinatal, labor, fetus, ASD, risk factors. Top |