Publication of ‘The Prevalence of Autism (including Aspergers Syndrome) in School Age Children in Northern Ireland 2016’
Date published:
The Department of Health has today published ‘The Prevalence of Autism (including Aspergers Syndrome) in School age Children in Northern Ireland 2016’. These figures have been extracted from the Northern Ireland School Census collected by the Department of Education.
Key Facts and Figures:
- the estimated prevalence of autism within the school aged population in Northern Ireland has increased by 1.1 percentage points from 1.2% in 2008/09 to 2.3% in 2015/16
- there is a significant difference in the estimated prevalence rates of autism between the genders, with males four times more likely to be identified with autism than females, in line with international findings
- the Northern Ireland urban population has a statistically significant higher prevalence rate than the rural population
- using the NI Multiple Deprivation Measure (MDM) ranking, from 2008/09 to 2013/14, the rate of autism in the least deprived MDM decile was higher than the most deprived MDM decile. However, by 2015/16, the rate of autism in the most deprived MDM decile was 30% higher than the least deprived MDM decile, and 35% higher than the Northern Ireland average
- the estimated prevalence of autism has increased across all school years, between 2009/10 and 2015/16, with the greatest increase in the number of children identified with autism occurring in the oldest (Year 12 – Aged 16 years old) group of children
- in 2009/10, 74% of children identified as having autism were classified at Stage 5 of the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Assessment. In 2015/16 the percentage of children identified as having autism classified at Stage 5 of the SEN Assessment had fallen to 66%
Notes to editors:
1. This information was collated by Community Information Branch within the Department of Health.
2. Statistics detailed within the publication were sourced from the Department of Education and include the number of school aged children identified with Autism (including Aspergers) by HSC Trust area, Urban/Rural, Multiple Deprivation Measure, gender, school year and special educational needs assessment. Trend analyses for 7 years are presented regionally and by HSC Trusts.
3. This publication is available online
4. Further information is available from:
Community Information Branch
Department of Health
Room 11, Annexe 2 Castle Buildings
Stormont Belfast BT4 3SP
Tel: 028 9052 0599
Fax: 028 9052 3288
E-mail: cib@health-ni.gov.uk
5. Media queries about this press release to DoH Press Office on 028 9052 0575, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned. Follow us on Twitter @healthserviceni