Overall ASD Prevalence Estimates

Overall ASD prevalence for the ADDM 2014 surveillance year varied widely
among sites (range: 13.1 [Arkansas] to 29.3 [New Jersey]) (Table 2). On the
basis of combined data from all 11 sites, ASD prevalence was 16.8 per
1,000 (one in 59) children aged 8 years. Overall estimated prevalence of
ASD was highest in New Jersey (29.3) compared to each of the other ten
sites (p<0.01).

Prevalence by Sex and Race/Ethnicity

When data from all 11 ADDM sites were combined, ASD prevalence was
26.6 per 1,000 boys and 6.6 per 1,000 girls (prevalence ratio: 4.0). ASD
prevalence was significantly (p<0.01) higher among boys than among girls
in all 11 ADDM sites (Table 2), with male-to-female prevalence ratios
ranging from 3.2 (Arizona) to 4.9 (Georgia). Estimated ASD prevalence also
varied by race and ethnicity (Table 3). When data from all sites were
combined, the estimated prevalence among white children (17.2 per
1,000) was 7% greater than that among black children (16.0 per 1,000) and
22% greater than that among Hispanic children (14.0 per 1,000). In nine
sites, the estimated prevalence of ASD was higher among white children
than black children. The white-to-black ASD prevalence ratios were
statistically significant in three sites (Arkansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin),
and the white-to-Hispanic prevalence ratios were significant in seven sites
(Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, and
Tennessee). In nine sites (Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland,
Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee), the estimated
prevalence of ASD was higher among black children than that among
Hispanic children. The black-to-Hispanic prevalence ratio was significant in
three of these nine sites (Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina). In New
Jersey, there was almost no difference in ASD prevalence estimates among
white, black, and Hispanic children. Estimates for Asian/Pacific Islander
children ranged from 7.9 per 1,000 (Colorado) to 19.2 per 1,000 (New
Jersey) with notably wide CIs.