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Cited by 98Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchFamily and Disability Support ResearchMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Perinatal and maternal risk factors for Autism Spectrum Disorders in new South Wales, Australia

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Williams, K., Helmer, M., Duncan, G. W., Peat, J. K., Mellis, C. M.·2008·Child: Care, Health and Development
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2007.00796.x
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Abstract

Background This study was commenced in 1999 with the aim of examining risk factors for autism using established population‐based data for comparison. Methods Cases were ascertained using active surveillance and compared with birth data. Results Four risk factors were found to be significantly associated with autism using binary logistic regression analysis; being male [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 4.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.2–7.0], being born prematurely (adjusted OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5–3.5), having maternal age ≥35 years (adjusted OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.4) and having a mother born outside Australia (adjusted OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0–1.9). For analysis completed for pregnancies, rather than live births, multiple birth was also a significant risk factor for one or more children of the pregnancy to be affected by autism (adjusted OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.5). There was a statistically significant trend towards increasing risk with increasing risk factor ‘dose’ for gestational age (P = 0.019), multiple birth (P = 0.016) and maternal age (P < 0.001). For mother's country of birth the group with the highest risk were children of mother's born in south‐east or north‐east Asia. There was a non‐significant trend towards a higher proportion of children with developmental disability having risk factors. Conclusion Replication of risk factors from previous studies and a significant risk factor ‘dose’ effect add to growing evidence that maternal and perinatal factors are low magnitude risk factors for autism. The association between developmental disability and autism risk factors warrants further examination.

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  • Most studies showed increased risk of ASD among children of migrant parents, while some reported no association or even decreased risk.

    “Most studies showed increased risk of ASD among children of migrant parents [61,62,63,64,65,66,67,69,70], while some reported no association [61,65,68,69] or even decreased risk [61,68,69,70].”

    From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [66]

  • Magnusson et al. (2012) reported an increased risk of low functioning autism and decreased risk of high functioning autism in children of migrant parents in Sweden, with risk ratios 1.2 (1.0-1.4) and 0.5 (0.4-0.6), respectively.

    “Magnusson et al. (2012) reported an increased risk of low functioning autism and decreased risk of high functioning autism in children of migrant parents in Sweden, 1.2 (1.0–1.4) and 0.5 (0.4–0.6), respectively [61], a finding confirmed by Williams et al. 2008 [66] and Becerra et al. (2014) [69].”

    From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [66]

  • Williams et al. (2008) reported that the odds of having a child with ASD among mothers born outside Australia significantly increased compared with those born in Australia, OR 1.4 (95% CI 1.0-1.9; p = 0.009).

    “Williams et al. (2008) reported that the odds of having a child with ASD among mothers born outside Australia significantly increased compared with those born in Australia, 1.4 (95% CI, 1.0–1.9; p = 0.009) [66].”

    From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [66]

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Authors
Williams, K., Helmer, M., Duncan, G. W., Peat, J. K., & Mellis, C. M.
Affiliations
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
  • Children's Hospital at Westmead (AU)
Corresponding author
Williams, K.
ORCID
Williams, K.
Venue
Child: Care, Health and Development
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2008-02
Volume
34
Issue
2
Pages
249-256
ISSN
  • 0305-1862 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2214
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2214.2007.00796.x
OpenAlex
W2023432424
Cited by
98
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 9
FWCI
2.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Child Care Health and Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UNSWorks (UNSW Sydney) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • UNSWorks (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Apex Foundation For Research Into Intellectual Disability
  • New South Wales Government
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, risk factors, perinatal factors, maternal factors, preterm birth, maternal age, multiple births, gestational age, maternal country of birth, developmental disabilities, sex differences, New South Wales
MeSH terms
Autistic Disorder, Birth Weight, Child, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Male, Maternal Age, New South Wales, Pregnancy, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Confidence Intervals, Odds Ratio

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