title: Assessing the prevalence of sensory and motor impairments in childhood in Bangladesh using key informants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was conducted to determine whether trained key informants (KI) could identify children with impairments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trained KI identified children with defined impairments/epilepsy who were then examined by a medical team at a nearby assessment centre (Key Informant Methodology: KIM). A population-based household randomised sample survey was also conducted for comparing the prevalence estimates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three districts in North Bangladesh.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study population of approximately 258 000 children aged 0-<18 years, within which 3910 children were identified by KI, 94.8% of whom attended assessment camps. In the household survey, 8120 children were examined, of whom 119 were identified with an impairment/epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence estimates of severe visual impairment (SVI), moderate/severe hearing impairment (HI), substantial physical impairment (PI) and epilepsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall prevalence estimates of impairments, including presumed HI, showed significant differences comparing KIM (9.0/1000 (95% CI 8.7 to 9.4)) with the household survey (14.7/1000 (95% CI 12.0 to 17.3)). Good agreement was observed for SVI (KIM 0.7/1000 children: survey 0.5/1000), PI (KIM 6.2/1000 children: survey 8.0/1000) and epilepsy (KIM 1.5/1000 children: survey 2.2/1000). Prevalence estimates for HI were much lower using KIM (2/1000) compared to the survey (6.4/1000). Excluding HI, overall prevalence estimates were similar (KIM: 7.5/1000 children (95% CI 7.2 to 7.8) survey: 8.4/1000 (95% CI 6.4 to 10.4)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KIM offers a low cost and relatively rapid way to identify children with SVI, PI and epilepsy in Bangladesh. HI is underestimated using KIM, requiring further research.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical Research, International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Gudlavalleti V S
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical Research, International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Islay
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mactaggart
authors.affiliation: Child Sight Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Muhit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.affiliation: Child Sight Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Johurul
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Knowledge Learning & Training Department, CBM International, Bensheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Noe
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Nephrology, National Institute of Kidney Disease and Urology, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Aynul Islam
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical Research, International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Comm Child Health; Deafness; Musculo-Skeletal; Tropical Paediatrics