Impact of Sociodemographic Factors on the Access to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Related Services
Description
Current research has consistently suggested disparities exist in ASD prevalence among children
of different race/ethnicities and socioeconomic statuses. These disparities are largely due to
inability of marginalized populations to access necessary resources, and in the case of
race/ethnicity also stem from implicit bias and systemic racism in the healthcare system. To date,
no work has comprehensively reviewed these studies to summarize and analyze their findings.
Thus, this review will serve to fill that gap in current research. The following review includes
twenty-five primary research studies published in the United States in 2005 or later. These
studies evaluated a variety of different sociodemographic factors and the impact they had on
accessing ASD related care, most often diagnosis and intervention. Overall, this paper found that
children of minority races/ethnicities (particularly Black and Hispanic/Latino) as well children
with low socioeconomic statuses consistently experienced more barriers in access to care for
ASD related resources. As a result, these groups often have lower prevalence rates, later
diagnoses, and lower utilization of intervention services. This review will guide future research
to further understand and eventually diminish the disparities observed.
Subject
Autism spectrum disorder
Sociodemographic factors
Socioeconomic factors
Race
Ethnicity
Diagnosis
Treatment
Intervention
Disparity
Sociodemographic factors
Socioeconomic factors
Race
Ethnicity
Diagnosis
Treatment
Intervention
Disparity