Autism spectrum disorder: Status of primary care in China

Primary care serves as the cornerstone to ensure positive health outcomes for diseases. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has attracted more attention as a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder with a prevalence that is increasing yearly. Although the demand for primary care for ASD is rapidly expanding, there are many challenges that need to be faced. Here, the current status of primary care for ASD in China is described. i) Identification of and care for ASD includes pre-diagnosis, diagnosis and evaluation, and treatment; the complexity of the disease and the lack of public understanding increase delays in diagnosis and treatment. ii) Most instruments, which are indispensable for diagnosing and evaluating ASD, are of foreign origin. iii) Treatments for ASD are based on mainstream Western interventions with complementary approaches. iv) The scale of rehabilitation and educational institutions has gradually grown and their expertise has gradually increased but rehabilitation costs are relatively high.