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Brief Report: Pregnancy, Birth and Infant Feeding Practices: A Survey-Based Investigation into Risk Factors for

Aleesha Whitely1,2, Kerrie Shandley3,4,5, Minh Huynh6

  • 1School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|November 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Pregnancy and birth factors like advanced maternal age and pre-eclampsia may increase autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk. Longer gestation showed a protective effect, highlighting key ASD risk and protective factors.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental neuroscience
  • Pediatric epidemiology
  • Environmental health

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) development is linked to interconnected environmental factors.
  • Identifying specific risk factors during pregnancy, birth, and infancy is crucial for early intervention.
  • Understanding these factors can inform preventative strategies and improve outcomes for children with ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore potential risk factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) associated with the prenatal period, birth process, and infant feeding.
  • To identify specific maternal and infant characteristics that may influence ASD risk.
  • To investigate the interrelationships between various risk factors contributing to ASD.

Main Methods:

  • An online survey collected demographic and health data from biological mothers of 4306 children aged 3-13 years.
  • Logistic regression modeling was employed to analyze the association between identified factors and ASD risk.
  • Data analysis focused on pregnancy, birth, and infant feeding variables.

Main Results:

  • Advanced maternal age, prenatal bleeding, pre-eclampsia, and perinatal pethidine usage were associated with increased ASD risk.
  • Foetal distress before birth and male infant sex were also identified as risk factors for ASD.
  • Longer gestational duration was found to have a protective effect against ASD development.

Conclusions:

  • Specific pregnancy and birth complications are associated with a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Male sex and certain perinatal events are potential predictors of ASD.
  • Gestational duration plays a protective role, emphasizing the importance of prenatal and perinatal care in ASD risk assessment.

Keywords:
AnalgesiaAutism spectrum disorderBreastfeedingLabour interventionsPregnancy complicationsRisk factors

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