Autistic children are less likely to participate in sport than non-autistic children, and sport participation may improve health and health related quality of life. It is therefore possible that sport participation may partially mediate the association between autism and adolescent health and health related quality of life. Sport participation may have distinct effects for autistic and non-autistic children, and these effects may also differ between team and individual sports. The study had two objectives. First, to estimate cumulative effects of sport participation (team or individual) between ages 8-15 on adolescent health and health related quality of life and determine whether effects of sport participation differed for autistic children compared to non-autistic children. Second, to determine whether sport participation (team or individual) mediated the relationship between autism and adolescent health and health related quality of life. Methods for causal mediation analysis were used to analyse data from a representative cohort of Australian children (n=313 autistic; 6346 non-autistic) between ages 8-15. Sport participation was reported by parents from ages 8-15. Outcomes at age 14-15 included body mass index, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire. Non-autistic children's health benefited from all forms of sport. For autistic children, however, team sport participation was linked to worse mental health and no benefit in physical health. Individual sport improved physical health related quality of life, but not body mass index or mental health for autistic children. The mediation hypothesis was not supported. Our findings suggest that greater efforts are needed to adapt community sport to encourage equitable participation and ensure that participation benefits autistic children's health and health-related quality of life equally.

According to the World Health Organization, about 16% of the global population has a disability, with many residing in developing countries. The Washington Group (WG) on Disability Statistics recommends the WG Short Set on Functioning to foster consistent, internationally comparable measures. However, this data is subject to biases due to societal misunderstandings and misreporting, including false positives and, more commonly, false negatives, particularly in developing countries. This paper examines discrepancies between reported and actual numbers of persons with disabilities and aims to advance methodological approaches and highlight the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Bangladesh. We employ a classification error modeling framework with a binary response variable and a Bayesian approach to estimate the true percentage of persons with disabilities and investigate associations with social variables. The 2016 Household Income and Expenditure Survey from Bangladesh serves as our case study. Bayesian analysis suggests a prevalence of 7.71%-4.8 times higher than the raw estimates-with a notable false negative rate of 0.79 under the WG's initially recommended guidelines, which define persons with "at least a lot of difficulty" as disabled. The rate drops to 0.33 when "some difficulty" is also included. The findings underscore the detrimental effects of disability on educational attainment, earning capacity, and marital experiences, highlighting the need for targeted support, especially for male persons with disabilities up to the junior secondary level. This study emphasizes the importance of a deeper understanding of the complexities of disability data and the societal structures that influence its reporting to inform effective policy and support mechanisms.

The associations between physical activity and various social determinants with quality of life (QoL) among teenagers with cerebral palsy (CP) are inconclusive. To explore associations between perceived QoL among teenagers with CP in Sweden and participation in physical leisure activity and physical education in school, as well as sex, gross motor function, pain and bother, caregivers' birth country and socioeconomic status. A cross-sectional study with teenagers who have CP, aged 15-18 years. The survey, including the assessment form Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life-teenager (CP QoL-teen), was sent to all youths in the national patient registry held by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (n=900). Survey data was complemented with data from other national health registries containing information on demographics, physical leisure activity, physical education, and gross motor function. Multivariable linear- and quantile regression analyses were performed. The survey was answered by 149 participants. Physical leisure activity was positively associated with the QoL-domain Communication and physical health. Gross motor function was associated with domains referring to physical function and participation; more severe motor difficulties indicated lower QoL. Pain was negatively associated with all QoL domains. Low caregiver educational levels were associated with higher social well-being domain. Minimizing pain and facilitating physical activity may enhance QoL for teenagers who have CP. To improve participation for teenagers with severe disabilities, with non-Nordic caregivers, and caregivers without postgraduate education, targeted measures to facilitate participation are needed.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are prevalent in the general population. Autistic individuals, both with and without intellectual disability (ID), are potentially at increased risk due to gaps in sexual health education, increased vulnerability to sexual abuse, victimization, and disparities in access to primary and reproductive health care. This study aims to identify the prevalence of STIs and HIV among a national sample of Medicaid-enrolled autistic individuals and their peers, identifying opportunities for intervention. Characteristics of autistic Medicaid beneficiaries with and without ID were stratified to compare individuals with and without chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. Period prevalence of outcomes among Medicaid enrollees with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) only, ID only, and both (ASD and ID) were compared. Among autistic individuals, the prevalence of STIs and HIV was highest in the 22-30 age group and among Black enrollees, underscoring the importance of prioritizing their care through screening and preventive health measures. The results emphasize gaps in addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of autistic individuals. Policymakers should prioritize funding for clinician training and increased healthcare access to address the sexual health needs of this population, especially those from additionally marginalized communities. It is vital to provide inclusive care that addresses the unique challenges faced by autistic individuals in accessing appropriate sexual health resources.

The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network continues to report increases in the percentage of U.S. children identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Few studies, however, have examined prevalence among U.S. adults. To use open data on ASD prevalence among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries, considering trends in the context of sociodemographic factors and dual enrollment in Medicaid. Administrative prevalence estimates from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) were used to explore changes in ASD prevalence among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries. These rates were compared with corresponding childhood prevalence estimates from the ADDM Network. In 2018, there were 87,108 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with autism diagnoses, representing a 236.1% increase from 2008. For 8-year-old children in the ADDM Network, the 2008-2018 change was 32.41%. National ASD prevalence increased in the fee-for-service Medicare population every year from 2007 through 2018, most substantially for beneficiaries under the age of 65. While only 10 states had a prevalence at or above 1 in 1000 beneficiaries in 2007, 48 states and the District of Columbia had a prevalence above that value in 2018. Prevalence in the Medicare population also increased from 2016 to 2018, a period in which program enrollment declined. Even more so than among children, autism prevalence increased in the fee-for-service Medicare population from 2007 through 2018. While geographic and sociodemographic differences in ASD identification existed, prevalence grew across states and most subgroups. Further research is needed to address questions involving the identification and support of autistic adults.