Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Hebatullah Tawfik

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are thought to be influenced by environmental, genetic, and maternal factors, including potential links to periconceptional folic acid. This quantitative case-control study, guided by the life course theory, explored the association of maternal risk factors (age, race, education, income, folate status, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, and MTHFR mutation) on the precipitation of ASD in offspring. The sample comprised 96 mothers of children with ASD and 143 mothers of children without ASD. Logistic regression analysis indicated no significant association between maternal folate status and ASD (OR = 1.00, 95% CI [1.000, 0.001], p = .755). Mothers with higher education were significantly less likely to have offspring with ASD than mothers with a high school diploma, GED, or less (OR = 0.251, 95% CI [0.103, 0.61], p = .002). Univariate analysis found the presence of gestational diabetes to be significantly associated (OR = 5.776, 95% CI [2.357, 14.156], p = < .001) and preeclampsia to be insignificantly associated (OR = 1.564, 95% CI [0.705, 3.469], p = .272) with ASD. However, an inverse relationship was observed between gestational diabetes and ASD in the final model. Further research is recommended to explore the relationship between ASD and maternal conditions, namely gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive prenatal care to promote optimal supplementation, nutrition, and strategies targeting modifiable risk factors in ASD risk during pregnancy. Within this context, researchers can better understand ASD etiology, develop targeted interventions, and contribute to more effective prevention efforts.

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