Investigation of the probable causes of specific childhood disabilities in eastern Afghanistan (preliminary report).
To identify risk factors likely to cause developmental disabilities and to generate hypotheses for a further study of risk factors predisposing to disability and slow mental and physical development. Mothers and children attending/visiting the Sandy Gall's Afghanistan Appeal (SGAA) clinics in the East Zone of Afghanistan. The main outcome measures, developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy (CP), club foot, CDH and polio. Results, 37.5% of the disabilities were present at birth, 46% of the disabled children were born from parents who are 1st cousin which was confirmed by computing chi2 value, which is 10.87 with one degree of freedom. 58.3% of the disabled children were born from parents who lack antenatal care. 22.4% of the pregnant women in the defined population had antenatal checkups, and 97% of the mothers in the defined population are illiterate, 52% of the children found with CP specific and mental retardation. 25% were with delayed physical and mental development. 13% were with CP specific and 10% were club foot. 2% of the children were visually handicapped, 9% with hearing impairment. 61% of children were from Nangarhar, 25% from Laghman and 14% from Kunar.
Nasir
J A
JA
Enviromental Health Department Public Health Division, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan. jamalanasir@yahoo.com
Chanmugham
P
P
Tahir
F
F
Ahmed
A
A
Shinwari
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000346:Afghanistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000151:congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003241:Consanguinity; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires