Neurological and intellectual disabilities among adolescents within a custodial institution in South-West Nigeria.
A total of 67 adolescents from a juvenile remand home were matched with 67 other adolescents by age and gender, with a view to determine the prevalence and spectrum of neurological and intellectual disabilities. Intelligence quotient (IQ) was estimated using an adapted version of the Slosson's Intelligence Test and a full neurological evaluation was carried out. The mean IQ score for the remand home participants was significantly lower than the controls (77 ± 11 vs. 99 ± 14; t = 1.6, P = 0.001). Almost half (46.7%) of the participants in the remand home had intellectual disability of varying degrees, including borderline intellectual functioning, compared with only two (3.3%) of the comparison group (P < 0.001). Epilepsy and neurological deficits were significantly more prevalent among the remand home group, particularly those admitted as victims of neglect, compared with the comparison group (P ≤ 0.02). These findings and recent literature were used to speculate the possible underlying factors. Policy implications for child social welfare in Nigeria were suggested.
Department of Psychiatry, University College Hospital Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
O
O
Atilola
O
O
Omigbodun
T
T
Bella-Awusah
I
I
Lagunju
P
P
Igbeneghu
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009549:Nigeria; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
institutional dynamics; learning disabilities; mental health settings; rehabilitation