Biblioteca Virtual en Salud Enfermería

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased significantly in every continent in the world. Research findings suggest that nearly 1 in every 100 children is diagnosed with ASD globally.(1) In the United States, more recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate an even higher prevalence, with 1 in every 36 children, or close to 2.0% being diagnosed with the disorder.(2) (Zeiddan et al., 2022; CDC, 2023). The prevalence distribution varies among different regions. In Latin American countries, like Brazil, data is limited, but it is estimated that approximately 1.5- to 2-million children could be affected by ASD. In Africa, prevalence rates are lower, with significant variations among countries due to differences in data collection methods and the diagnostics resources available.