title: Against the odds: psychomotor development of children under 2 years in a Sudanese orphanage.
abstract: Providing abandoned children the necessary medical and psychological care as possible after their institutionalization may minimize developmental delays. We describe psychomotor development in infants admitted to an orphanage in Khartoum, Sudan, assessed at admission and over an 18-month follow-up. Psychological state and psychomotor quotients were determined using a simplified Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (NBAS), the Brunet-Lezine and Alarm distress baby (ADBB) scale. From May-September 2005, 151 children were evaluated 2, 4, 9, 12 and 18 months after inclusion. At admission, ~15% of children ≤1 month had a regulation impairment according to the NBAS, and 33.8% presented a distress state (ADBB score >5). More than 85% (129/151) recovered normal psychomotor development. The results of the program reinforce the importance of early detection of psychological disorders followed by rapid implementation of psychological case management to improve the development of young children in similar institutions and circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Epicentre, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Espié
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ouss
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gaboulaud
authors.forename: Drina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Candilis
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cohuet
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baubet
authors.forename: Rebecca F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Grais
authors.forename: Marie-Rose
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Moro
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption; D019090:Case Management; D002657:Child Development; D054540:Child, Orphaned / Q000523:psychology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D019372:Orphanages / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013397:Sudan