BIOLOGICAL, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCREASE IN THE PREVALENCE OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND ITS IMPACTS ON THE ORGANIZATION OF COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE IN CONTEMPORARY BRAZIL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/arev7n12-194Keywords:
Social Determinants of Health, Environmental Exposure, Biological Factors, Prevalence, Autism Spectrum DisorderAbstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has a multifactorial nature, resulting from the interaction between biological, social, and environmental determinants that influence its prevalence and the organization of comprehensive health care in Brazil. Recent epidemiological advances, driven by diagnostic improvements and greater population visibility, have shown that genetic factors, environmental exposures, and perinatal conditions interact with social and territorial vulnerabilities, configuring a heterogeneous scenario in terms of risk, identification, and access to care. This study aimed to analyze in an integrated way the biological, social, and environmental factors associated with the increase in the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in contemporary Brazil. This is an integrative review conducted according to the model proposed by Mendes, Silveira, and Galvão, involving stages of delimitation of the question, structured search, selection of studies, categorization, and critical synthesis. The results show that biological and epigenetic determinants are associated with psychosocial, environmental, and structural conditions that modulate the severity and distribution of ASD, while care barriers, regional inequalities, and limited training capacity impact the effectiveness of the care network. It is concluded that the increase in ASD prevalence requires a reorganization of comprehensive care, with strengthening of Primary Care, expansion of specialized services, use of technologies such as telemedicine, and implementation of articulated flows that ensure early diagnosis, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, and continued support for families.
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References
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