Question 2

To answer this question, you will be working with some data on the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children aged 8 years in the USA. These data are presented in Tables 1 and 2 below. Answers can be calculated manually from Tables 1 and 2, or if you are familiar with using spreadsheets.

To demonstrate good academic practice, you should include citations for your sources of information in part (g) of this question. Marks will be awarded for this.

	2008	2010	2012	2014	2016
Non-Hispanic White	12.0	15.8	15.3	17.2	18.5
Non-Hispanic Black	10.2	12.3	13.1	16.0	18.3
Hispanic	7.9	10.8	10.1	14.0	15.4
Asian Pacific Islander	9.7	12.3	11.4	13.5	17.9

	2008	2010	2012	2014	2016
Non-Hispanic White	2,265,685	2,209,722	2,162,754	2,124,233	2,092,046
Non-Hispanic Black	587,023	579,120	568,587	564,539	562,689
Hispanic	909,911	954,341	973,437	992,021	1,014,184
Asian Pacific Islander	7,534	7,791	7,904	8,073	8,296
Total	3,770,153	3,750,974	3,712,682	3,688,866	3,677,215

(a)

Calculate the number of ASD cases for each of the years in Tables 1 and 2 for Non-Hispanic White and Non-Hispanic Black 8 year olds. Show all your working out and round your answers to the nearest whole number. Present your rounded answers in a clearly titled table with all your working out underneath the table. Your table should include 10 separate numbers of cases, one for each of the years for each of the two ethnic groups.

(b)

Using the numbers of ASD cases you calculated for Non-Hispanic White and Non-Hispanic Black 8 year olds for 2016 in your table for part (a), calculate a ratio of numbers of cases between these two ethnic groups where the Non-Hispanic White part of the ratio is represented as '1'. What does this ratio tell us and how is this information of limited use?

(c)

Describe the overall trend in estimated prevalence per 1000 for ASD in 8 year olds in the US in all the ethnic groups over the years 2008-2016. Identify some years or ethnic groups in which the overall trend was not followed.

(d)

Explain what is meant by prevalence rate, and the benefit of using prevalence rates rather than numbers of cases within a population. Illustrate your answer using some of the data from Table 1.

(e)

Have the differences between ethnic groups in ASD prevalence rates per 1000 increased or decreased over the years in Table 1? State your answer and explain why the data lead you to this conclusion. Suggest one possible reason why these differences may have occurred.

(f)

The prevalence data presented in this question were collected by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) using four different methods. One of the methods was to collect information on school students who were registered to receive special educational support in each US state. Describe why there might be a problem with relying on epidemiological data collected using this method.

(g)

As the children in this dataset are 8 years old, they are of school age. Briefly describe two non-drug interventions that could be used to improve the experience of children aged 8 with ASD within the school setting, and explain the limitations of these interventions. Give citations and references to the SK298 module material to support your answer.