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National Autism Indicators Report: The Intersection of Autism, Health, Poverty and Racial Inequity

Lindsay Shea

Author(s)
Kristy Anderson, Anne Roux, Hillary Steinberg, Tamara Garfield, Jessica Rast, Paul Shattuck, Lindsay Shea

Date
4/18/2022

Topics
Health Equity and Social Determinants

Type
Indepth Report

Data Source
National Survey of Children’s Health

# Pages
64

Key Findings

We found that household income appears to be a very important factor for understanding health disparities for people with autism, as it is associated with differences in health status, insurance coverage, medical expenditures, and healthcare access. The report also shows that autism, poverty, and race/ethnicity appear to be risk factors for poor health and healthcare outcomes individually and in combination. Future research should monitor disparities across a wide range of social determinants. We also suggest that we turn our attention to understanding and addressing policies outside of healthcare – such as economic safety net policies like food stamps and Social Security – to address health equity among U.S. children with autism.

Overview

This report examines the following two questions: 1) do income-based differences in health and health care outcomes look the same for children with and without autism? and 2) do income-based differences in health and health care outcomes look the same for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)  children with autism and white children with autism? Examining the health and healthcare outcomes of children with autism in combination with other social characteristics offers several advantages. First, we can illuminate how demographics alone, and in combination with other social characteristics of children, are associated with differences in the rates of health and healthcare outcomes they experience. Second, it increases our understanding of the health-related experiences of social groups who are often neglected in research. Third, it provides current and comprehensive evidence on how children with autism experience relative disadvantages related to social determinants of health, which are aspects of the environment that affect health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.

Suggested Citation

Anderson, Kristy, A.; Roux, Anne M.; Steinberg, Hillary; Garfield, Tamara; Rast, Jessica E.; Shattuck, Paul T.; and Shea, Lindsay L. National Autism Indicators Report: The Intersection of Autism, Health, Poverty and Racial Inequity. Philadelphia: Policy and Analytics Center and Life Course Outcomes Research Program, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, April 2022.


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