Maternal and birth risk factors for children screening positive for autism spectrum disorders on M-CHAT-R

• Out of our study population, 9.42% had screened positive for ASD using MCHAT-R.
• Advanced paternal age at birth of the child was mostly seen in screen positive children.
• Neonatal seizures were associated with increased odds of screen positivity for ASD.
• Maternal concerns about development were associated with higher odds of screen positivity.
• Exclusive breast feeding in first 6 months of life was associated with decreased odds.

This study was carried out to screen children aged 16–30 months, attending pediatric outpatient department of JIPMER, Puducherry, during June to August 2014, for ASD using modified checklist for autism in toddlers-revised (MCHAT-R) and to find association between maternal, birth and postnatal risk factors with risk of ASD. A total of 350 mother–child pairs with children aged between 16 and 30 months were recruited. M-CHAT-R was administered to all mothers to screen for ASD along with risk checklist. Based on screen result children were classified as ASD (high risk) and no ASD (low and medium risk) group. The association between risk factors and screen positivity for ASD was studied using odds ratio. According to our study, 33 (9.4%) screened positive for ASD. Mean age was 21 months. High mean paternal age at birth (P value 0.025), need for resuscitation at birth (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.47–8.10), NICU stay >12 h (OR 4.7, 95% CI 2.26–9.94), late initiation of breastfeeding (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.83–8.39), neonatal seizures (OR 11.8, 95% CI 5.38–26.25) were associated with screen positivity for ASD. After adjusting for confounding, neonatal seizures, and maternal concern about child development were associated with increased odds of screening positive for ASD whereas exclusive breast feeding in the first 6 months of life is associated with decreased odds. Screening for ASD in children with above risk factors might help in early initiation of remedial interventions.