title: CDC Kerala 16: Early Detection of developmental delay/disability among children below 6 y--a district model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a district model for establishing early detection of childhood disability below 6 y of age and to develop appropriate referral linkages for confirmation of the diagnosis and establish home based early intervention therapy to all needy children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trained Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers conducted the preliminary survey for identifying developmental delay/disability among children below 6 y of age using Trivandrum Developmental Screening Chart (TDSC) (0-6 y) and a team of experts assessed the screen positives in developmental evaluation camps conducted at primary health centres (PHCs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Community survey was carried out and 1,01,438 children below 6 y of age in Thiruvananthapuram district were screened by ASHA workers and 2,477 (2.45%) positive cases (TDSC two or more item delay) were identified and these children were called for the developmental evaluation camps conducted at 80 PHCs in the district. Among the 1,329 children who reached the evaluation camps 43.1% were normal. 24.98% children had speech and language delay and 22.95% children had multiple disabilities. Developmental delay was observed among 49.89% children and cerebral palsy in 8.43% and intellectual disability 16.85% were confirmed. Visual impairment in 3.31% and neuromuscular disorders in 1.35 were found among children evaluated in the camp.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this district wide early detection of disability survey by trained ASHA workers among children below 6 y of age showed a community prevalence of 3.08% observed, based on two or more item delay in TDSC and among these children, 43.1% were normal, 49.89% had developmental delay, 24.98% had speech and language delay and 22.95% had multiple disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Child Development Centre, Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, 695011, Kerala, India, cdcmkc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M K C
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Harikumaran Nair
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beena
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Princly
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abhiram Chandran
authors.forename: Babu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Leena
authors.forename: Paul Swamidhas Sudhakar
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012307:Risk Factors