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Table 1 Comparison of the socioeconomic and demographic profiles of the mild and moderate/severe groups

From: Non-parental caregivers, low maternal education, gastrointestinal problems and high blood lead level: predictors related to the severity of autism spectrum disorder in Northeast China

Variables

Mild group N (%)

 

Moderate/severe group

N (%)

Z/χ2

P

Sex

   

1.400

0.237

 Male

208 (83.5%)

 

209 (79.5%)

  

 Female

41 (16.5%)

 

54 (20.5%)

  

Age (median (Q1-Q3))

3.5 (3–5)

 

3 (2.5–4)

−3.250

0.010*

Birth month

   

2.961

0.398

 Nov-Jan

66 (26.5%)

 

79 (30.0%)

  

 Feb-Apr

51 (20.5%)

 

50 (19.0%)

  

 May-Jul

65 (26.1%)

 

54 (20.5%)

  

 Aug-Oct

67 (26.9%)

 

80 (30.4%)

  

Place of residence

   

4.505

0.034*

 Urban

193 (77.5%)

 

182 (69.2%)

  

 Rural

56 (22.5%)

 

81 (30.8%)

  

Caregivers

   

7.986

0.046*

 Parents

159 (63.9%)

 

137 (52.1%)

  

 Grandparents

66 (26.5%)

 

93 (35.4%)

  

 Both parents and grandparents

20 (8.0%)

 

30 (11.4%)

  

 Others

4 (1.6%)

 

3 (1.1%)

  

Siblings

   

1.762

0.184

 Yes

52 (20.9%)

 

68 (25.9%)

  

 No

197 (79.1%)

 

195 (74.1%)

  

Age of mother during pregnancy (median (Q1-Q3))

28 (25–30)

 

28 (24–31.75)

−0.710

0.478

Age of father during pregnancy (median (Q1-Q3))

29.5 (27–33)

 

29 (26–33)

−0.297

0.767

Maternal education

   

7.132

0.008*

 Junior college or above

109 (43.8%)

 

85 (32.3%)

  

 Senior high school or below

140 (56.2%)

 

178 (67.7%)

  

Paternal education

   

4.506

0.034*

 Junior college or above

104 (41.8%)

 

86 (32.7%)

  

 Senior high school or below

145 (58.2%)

 

177 (67.3)

  

Household income (10,000 yuan) (median (Q1-Q3))

5 (4–7)

 

5 (4–6)

−1.918

0.055

Family history of mental illness

   

0.001

0.973

 Yes

31 (12.4%)

 

33 (12.5%)

  

 No

218 (87.6%)

 

230 (87.5%)

  

Vitamin intake during pregnancy

   

2.795

0.424

 None

29 (11.6%)

 

43 (16.3%)

  

 Folic acid

139 (55.8%)

 

139 (52.9%)

  

 Multivitamins

57 (22.9%)

 

53 (20.2%)

  

 Others

24 (9.6%)

 

28 (10.6%)

  

Mode of delivery

   

0.026

0.872

 Vaginal

85 (34.1%)

 

88 (33.5%)

  

 Cesarean

164 (65.9%)

 

175 (66.5%)

  

Eating problems

   

0.247

0.619

 Yes

111 (44.6%)

 

123 (46.8%)

  

 No

138 (55.4%)

 

140 (53.2%)

  

Sleeping problems

   

0.529

0.467

 Yes

74 (29.7%)

 

86 (32.7%)

  

 No

175 (70.3%)

 

177 (67.3%)

  

Gastrointestinal problems

   

4.709

0.030*

 Yes

53 (21.3%)

 

78 (29.7%)

  

 No

196 (78.7%)

 

185 (70.3%)

  

Comorbidity with ADHD

   

0.250

0.617

 Yes

30 (12.0%)

 

28 (10.6%)

  

 No

219 (88.0%)

 

235 (89.4%)

  
  1. *P<0.05