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Middle East Current Psychiatry

Table 2 Comparison between autistic and non-autistic children in demographic data

From: Prevalence and risk factors of autism spectrum disorders in preschool children in Sharkia, Egypt: a community-based study

Variable Autistic
(n = 20) 		Non autistic#
(n = 84) 		χ2 P
No. % No. %
Age group       
 4-5 years 16 80 39 46.4 Fisher 0.006**
Sex (Male) 15 75 53 63.1 1.01 0.32 (NS)
Father education       
 Read and write 0 0 2 2.4   
 Middle education♦ 6 30 44 52.4 Fisher 0.13
 University 14 70 38 45.2   NS
Mother education       
 Read and write 0 0 2 2.4   
 Middle education♦ 2 10 41 48.8 Fisher 0.005**
 University 18 90 41 48.8   
Father occupation       
 Employee 7 35 33 39.3   
 Private work 13 65 32 38.1 Fisher 0.06
 Vocational worker 0 0 15 17.9   NS
 Professional 0 0 4 4.8   
Mother occupation       
 Housewife 9 45 55 65.5 2.86 0.09
 Working 11 55 29 34.5   NS
Who care ◘       
 Father 5 45.4 5 17.2   
 Grand mom and pap 3 27.3 8 27.6 Fisher 0.25
 Kinder garden 3 27.3 14 48.3   NS
 Other 0 0 2 6.9   
Duration       
 < 4 h 3 27.3 2 6.9 Fisher 0.11
 ≥ 4 h 8 72.7 27 93.1   NS
Social state of parents       
 Married 20 100 82 97.6 Fisher 0.65
NS
Residence       
 Urban 13 65 38 45.2 2.52 0.11
 Rural 7 35 46 54.8   NS
Factories near home■       
 No◙ 16 80 84 100   
 Yes⌂ 4 20 0 0 Fisher 0.001**
Home environment       
 Extended 0 0 2 2.4 Fisher 0.65
 Nuclear 20 100 82 97.6   NS
Smoker inside home       
 Yes (father) 9 45 41 48.8 0.09 0.76
NS
Sibling number       
 ≤ 2 10 50 58 69 2.59 0.11
 <2 10 50 26 31   NS
Order of child       
 First 10 50 41 48.8   
 Middle 8 40 6 7.1 Fisher < 0.001**
 Last 2 10 37 44   
  1. #Non-autistic children included here were those of the high-risk group
  2. ♦Middle education refers to primary, preparatory, secondary, and vocational education
  3. ◘Who care for the child during mother’s absence for working
  4. ■Any industries that could emit air pollutants and toxins such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitric oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) like petrochemical industries, iron smelters, oil refineries, polypropylene plants, power companies and methanol industries, formaldehyde plants and urea industries, heavy industries, and metal industries
  5. ◙No answer means that the distance of the child home from the factory is > 20 km
  6. ⌂Yes answer means that the distance between the home of the child and the factory is ≤ 20 km
  7. **Statistically significant
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