BACKGROUND: One of the main objectives of studying intellectual disability (ID) in children is to explore its causes. A specific aetiological diagnosis is important in determining the prognosis, nature and extent of services needed to support affected children. METHODS: Aetiology and risk factors in mild ID were studied in a cohort of longitudinally followed children (6-10 years of age, n = 40) in four population groups in and around Lahore, Pakistan. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of mild ID was 6.2%. In 22% of the cases the onset of mild ID was prenatal with small for gestational age and multifactorial inheritance as the main underlying factors. During the postnatal period (28% of the cases), social deprivation and malnutrition were the major causes of ID. In a substantial proportion of the cases (50%), the cause of ID could not be traced. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates a clear relationship of mild ID with prenatal and postnatal malnutrition and social deprivation. Two independent variables, maternal illiteracy and small head circumference at birth, showed a clear association with the development of mild mental disability among children in the study population.
BACKGROUND: One of the main objectives of studying intellectual disability (ID) in children is to explore its causes. A specific aetiological diagnosis is important in determining the prognosis, nature and extent of services needed to support affected children. METHODS: Aetiology and risk factors in mild ID were studied in a cohort of longitudinally followed children (6-10 years of age, n = 40) in four population groups in and around Lahore, Pakistan. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of mild ID was 6.2%. In 22% of the cases the onset of mild ID was prenatal with small for gestational age and multifactorial inheritance as the main underlying factors. During the postnatal period (28% of the cases), social deprivation and malnutrition were the major causes of ID. In a substantial proportion of the cases (50%), the cause of ID could not be traced. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates a clear relationship of mild ID with prenatal and postnatal malnutrition and social deprivation. Two independent variables, maternal illiteracy and small head circumference at birth, showed a clear association with the development of mild mental disability among children in the study population.
Authors: Fred J Biasini; Desiree De Jong; Sarah Ryan; Vanessa Thorsten; Carla Bann; Roopa Bellad; Niranjana S Mahantshetti; Sangappa M Dhaded; Omrana Pasha; Elwyn Chomba; Shivaprasad S Goudar; Waldemar A Carlo; Elizabeth McClure Journal: Early Hum Dev Date: 2015-03-02 Impact factor: 2.079
Authors: Simone M Karam; Aluísio J D Barros; Alícia Matijasevich; Iná S Dos Santos; Luciana Anselmi; Fernando Barros; Sandra Leistner-Segal; Têmis M Félix; Mariluce Riegel; Sharbel W Maluf; Roberto Giugliani; Maureen M Black Journal: Public Health Genomics Date: 2016-09-06 Impact factor: 2.000