Dataset for: Exploring Co-occurring Conditions in Iraqi Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Prevalence, Characteristics, and Risk Factors
Description
Autism is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions worldwide, impacting roughly 1 in 36 children, as per the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Autism is associated with lifelong challenges, leading to significant social, educational, and psychological impacts for both the children and their families. Yet, In Iraq, there exists a critical lack of research on this condition to the extent that no official estimate of its prevalence has been reported. This gap severely hinders the ability to provide adequate healthcare and support systems for these children and their families. To address this gap, the International Branch of Tehran University for Medical Sciences and Al-Subtain Academy for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders have conducted nine studies as a part of a research collaboration titled “Epidemiological, Clinical, and Psychosocial Aspects of Iraqi Children with Autism”. As a part of this collaboration, we found that co-occurring conditions were common among Iraqi children with ASD and might be diagnosed, in many cases, even before autism is brought to light, which supports the recommendation that children who are diagnosed with epilepsy should be assessed for neurodevelopmental conditions. We also found that children with co-occurring conditions who had shorter sleep suffered from higher BMI, highlighting the interaction between different co-occurring conditions and that addressing one might also help in the management of the other.