Clinico Socio-Demographic Profile of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder from a Mental Health Clinic in Nepal: An Observational Study.

This study looked at 138 children diagnosed with autism in Nepal. Most were boys (about 4 boys for every 1 girl) and were diagnosed around age 3.5 years. Most were the oldest child in their family and attended regular school. Parents and family members noticing concerns were the main reasons families sought a diagnosis. The children showed mild to moderate autism symptoms and had some difficulties with social and daily living skills, but these were generally mild.

This observational study examined clinical records of 138 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at a mental health clinic in Nepal over 18 months. The study found a mean age at diagnosis of 42.94 months, with a strong male predominance (79.7%) and male-to-female ratio of 3.9:1. Most children (76%) were first-born, and 82.6% attended regular school. Parent and relative concerns were the primary drivers for seeking diagnosis (46.3% combined), followed by pediatrician referrals.

The mean CARS score of 34.33 indicated mild-to-moderate ASD symptoms, while the mean VSMS score of 69.02 suggested mild impairment in socio-adaptive functioning. The findings provide valuable baseline data for understanding ASD presentation in Nepal's clinical context.

Results support early detection efforts and highlight the importance of family awareness in seeking ASD diagnosis. The mild-to-moderate symptom profile and high rate of mainstream school attendance suggest positive outcomes are achievable. Findings provide baseline data for Nepal's autism services and may inform resource allocation and professional training priorities.

Single-site observational study from one mental health clinic in Nepal limits generalizability. Cross-sectional design prevents examination of developmental trajectories. Potential selection bias toward families with resources to access specialized mental health services. No comparison group or control data provided.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with symptoms manifesting in early childhood. There is limited information regarding the clinical scenario of ASD within Nepal. The study aims to determine the clinical and socio-demographic profile in children with ASD. This was an observational cross-section study which examined the records of children diagnosed with ASD at a Mental Health Clinic in Nepal.

Approval for the study was granted by NHRC. The analysis focused on data extracted from clinic records of ASD patients spanning from 16 September 2022 to 15 March 2024 encompassing one and a half years. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Ill., USA). A total of 138 children were diagnosed with ASD, with a mean age of diagnosis at 42.94 ±17.49 months.

Among the participants, there were 110 (79.69%) male, 105 (76.01%) first born with a male to female ratio of 3.9:1 and 114 (82.59% ) were going to regular school. Parents' 39 (28.29%) and relatives' 25 (18.01%) concerns were the primary reasons for seeking a diagnosis followed by referrals from pediatricians 19 (13.79%). The mean Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) score of 34.33±3.99 was indicative of mild to moderate symptoms of ASD. The mean Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS) score of 69.02±13.25 was indicative of mild impairment in socio-adaptive functioning.

The study shows higher rate of ASD among males and first-born children. Early age at diagnosis is encouraging and is associated with better outcomes.