The Role of Risk and Protective Factors in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Background: Identifying the risk factors and protective measures for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) can significantly contribute to their prevention. This study aimed to ascertain the risk factors and protective measures associated with ASD.Methods: This retrospective case-control study was conducted in Sari, Iran, from 2020 to 2021. A total of 196 children, aged 2-17 years, were recruited by convenience sampling from the Baghban (Touba) Clinic, Zareh Psychiatric Hospital Clinic, and Bu-Ali Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinic. The case group consisted of 98 children with ASD, diagnosed based on the DSM-V criteria, while the control group included 98 children without ASD. Subsequently, potential risk factors in both groups were examined. The odds ratio was calculated at a 95% confidence level, with a significance level of P<0.05.Results: After adjusting the odds ratio (95% CI), ASD was found to be significantly associated with relatives’ consanguinity [0.625 (0.409, 0.953)], breastfeeding [0.743 (0.582, 0.950)], and the child’s history of head trauma [15.911 (1.78, 142.238)]. A closer degree of relatives’ consanguinity increased the risk of autism in children by 1.6 times. Children who were breastfed for a longer period (up to 2 years) were 1.34 times less likely to develop autism. Moreover, children with a history of head trauma were approximately 16 times more likely to develop autism compared to children without such a history.Conclusion: Breastfeeding has been identified as a protective factor, while the existence of closer relatives’ consanguinity and a history of head trauma have been identified as risk factors for ASD. Further studies on these factors are recommended.