PREVALENCE AND HOUSEHOLD CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IN BRAZIL, TOCANTINS, AND GURUPI: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS BASED ON THE 2022 CENSUS (IBGE)

Abstract

The 2022 Demographic Census represented a statistical milestone by investigating, for the first time, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on a national scale. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and sociodemographic profile of ASD in Brazil, in the state of Tocantins, and in the municipality of Gurupi, correlating them with indicators of household infrastructure. This is a descriptive and cross-sectional epidemiological study, carried out using microdata from the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). Variables of diagnosis, sex, age, race/ethnicity, and housing conditions were analyzed. The results revealed an estimated national prevalence of 1.12% to 1.20%, a level congruent with the international literature. In the municipality of Gurupi, an absolute census frequency of 203 cases was identified (age range 0 to 14 years), highlighting a gap in relation to the expected population estimate of approximately 1,082 cases, suggesting challenges in census identification or diagnostic underreporting in the region. The demographic profile confirmed the male predominance in Brazil (73.69%) and in Tocantins (73.12%), with an even more pronounced asymmetry in Gurupi, where 88.18% of identified cases are male. The age analysis showed a higher concentration of diagnoses in the 5 to 9 year age range, indicating the central role of schooling in case identification. Regarding infrastructure, critical regional disparities were observed: while most Brazilian households with ASD have adequate access to the general water network, in Tocantins the indicators pointed to greater sanitary vulnerability. It is concluded that, although the Census has advanced the visibility of autism, regional and gender inequalities demand focused public policies.