Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in children in the Azores islands (Portugal): sociodemographic and clinical profile

Ana Rita Conde; Pilar Mota; Tânia Botelho; Suzana Caldeira; Isabel Rego; Osvaldo Silva; Áurea Sandra Toledo de Sousa; Carina Freitas

doi:10.1007/s12144-025-08111-4

Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in children in the Azores islands (Portugal): sociodemographic and clinical profile

Ana Rita Conde^*, Pilar Mota, Tânia Botelho, Suzana Caldeira, Isabel Rego, Osvaldo Silva, Áurea Sandra Toledo de Sousa, Carina Freitas

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Prevalence studies are essential to provide objective indicators about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and are a source of information for public policies. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of ASD among children in the Azores Islands (Portugal). Administrative data on the number of children with a proven diagnosis of ASD were collected from all schools. Parents completed a questionnaire about the child’s sociodemographic characteristics, the diagnostic process, and clinical history. The overall prevalence of ASD in the Azores region was 9.92 per 1000 children, approximately equivalent to 1% (0.99). The prevalence of ASD in the Azores seems to be higher when compared with the global rate in Portugal, as well as with other regions of Europe. There appears to be a concentration of children with ASD in the region, and the results appear to support the hypothesis of a heritable predisposition to ASD.

Original language	English
Number of pages	13
Journal	Current Psychology
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-08111-4
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2025

Keywords

ASD
Azores
Children
Portugal
Prevalence

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10.1007/s12144-025-08111-4Licence: CC BY

122637492Final published version, 1.19 MBLicence: CC BY

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/53818Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in children in the Azores islands (Portugal): sociodemographic and clinical profile",

abstract = "Prevalence studies are essential to provide objective indicators about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and are a source of information for public policies. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of ASD among children in the Azores Islands (Portugal). Administrative data on the number of children with a proven diagnosis of ASD were collected from all schools. Parents completed a questionnaire about the child{\textquoteright}s sociodemographic characteristics, the diagnostic process, and clinical history. The overall prevalence of ASD in the Azores region was 9.92 per 1000 children, approximately equivalent to 1\% (0.99). The prevalence of ASD in the Azores seems to be higher when compared with the global rate in Portugal, as well as with other regions of Europe. There appears to be a concentration of children with ASD in the region, and the results appear to support the hypothesis of a heritable predisposition to ASD.",

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doi = "10.1007/s12144-025-08111-4",

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AU - Conde, Ana Rita

AU - Mota, Pilar

AU - Botelho, Tânia

AU - Caldeira, Suzana

AU - Rego, Isabel

AU - Silva, Osvaldo

AU - Sousa, Áurea Sandra Toledo de

AU - Freitas, Carina

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Prevalence studies are essential to provide objective indicators about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and are a source of information for public policies. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of ASD among children in the Azores Islands (Portugal). Administrative data on the number of children with a proven diagnosis of ASD were collected from all schools. Parents completed a questionnaire about the child’s sociodemographic characteristics, the diagnostic process, and clinical history. The overall prevalence of ASD in the Azores region was 9.92 per 1000 children, approximately equivalent to 1% (0.99). The prevalence of ASD in the Azores seems to be higher when compared with the global rate in Portugal, as well as with other regions of Europe. There appears to be a concentration of children with ASD in the region, and the results appear to support the hypothesis of a heritable predisposition to ASD.

AB - Prevalence studies are essential to provide objective indicators about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and are a source of information for public policies. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of ASD among children in the Azores Islands (Portugal). Administrative data on the number of children with a proven diagnosis of ASD were collected from all schools. Parents completed a questionnaire about the child’s sociodemographic characteristics, the diagnostic process, and clinical history. The overall prevalence of ASD in the Azores region was 9.92 per 1000 children, approximately equivalent to 1% (0.99). The prevalence of ASD in the Azores seems to be higher when compared with the global rate in Portugal, as well as with other regions of Europe. There appears to be a concentration of children with ASD in the region, and the results appear to support the hypothesis of a heritable predisposition to ASD.

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Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in children in the Azores islands (Portugal): sociodemographic and clinical profile

Abstract

Keywords

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CIIS: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health

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Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in children in the Azores islands (Portugal): sociodemographic and clinical profile

Abstract

Keywords

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CIIS: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health

Cite this