The U.S. Department
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has prioritized finding possible causes of autism, including launching the Autism Data Science Initiative. Research is ongoing regarding which behaviors are safe, including examinations of medications taken during pregnancy. What is known right now is that autism rates are rising. As of the latest data, one in 31 children in the United States has autism, according to the organization Autism Speaks. This is up from the previous rate of one in 36. Around the world, one in 100 children are diagnosed with autism. Boys are nearly four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls, and those who are American Indian or members of Alaska Native racial or ethnic groups have a higher prevalence of autism than others.
