Gender disparities in autism spectrum disorder prevalence: A Study of Children in Special Care Centers in Batticaloa District

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the gender-specific prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children aged 3 to 16 years who attend special care centers in the Batticaloa District of Sri Lanka, as well as to identify disparities in diagnosis and management.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving 52 children enrolled in eight special care centers. Data were collected through parental interviews and semi-structured questionnaires that included the Indian Scale for Autism Assessment. Quantitative analyses were performed using SPSS version 27 and Microsoft Excel, presenting results in terms of frequencies and percentages.

Results: A significant male predominance was observed, with 86.5% of ASD diagnoses made in boys. The highest prevalence was noted among children aged 6 to 8 years (40.4%), followed by those aged 3 to 5 years (21.2%). Firstborn children represented 44.2% of cases, suggesting potential genetic or perinatal risk factors. The ethnic distribution indicated a higher prevalence among Tamil (57.7%) and Muslim (42.3%) children, with no cases documented among Sinhalese participants.

Conclusion: The findings highlight significant gender disparities in ASD prevalence in Batticaloa, consistent with global trends yet revealing unique patterns within the rural Sri Lankan context. Strengthening gender-sensitive diagnostic approaches, enhancing parental and community awareness, and implementing context-specific policy measures are essential for improving early identification and intervention outcomes.