Article

AIM: To study prevalence and risk factors for neurological disorders--epilepsy,
global developmental delay, and motor, vision, and hearing defects--in children
aged 6 months to 2 years in northern India. METHOD: A two-stage community survey
for neurological disorders was conducted in rural and urban areas of Lucknow.
After initial screening with a new instrument, the Lucknow Neurodevelopment
Screen, screen positives and a random proportion of screen negatives were
validated using predefined criteria. Prevalence was calculated by weighted
estimates. Demographic, socio-economic, and medical risk factors were compared
between validated children who were positive and negative for neurological
disorders by univariate and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 4801
children screened (mean age [SD] 15.32mo [5.96]; 2542 males, 2259 females), 196
were positive; 190 screen positives and 269 screen negatives were validated.
Prevalence of neurological disorders was 27.92 per 1000 (weighted 95% confidence
interval 12.24-43.60). Significant risk factors (p</=0.01) for neurological
disorders were higher age in months (p=0.010), lower mean number of appliances in
the household (p=0.001), consanguineous marriage of parents (p=0.010), family
history of neurological disorder (p=0.001), and infants born exceptionally small
(parental description; p=0.009). On logistic regression, the final model included
age (p=0.0193), number of appliances (p=0.0161), delayed cry at birth (p=0.0270),
postneonatal meningoencephalitis (p=0.0549), and consanguinity (p=0.0801).
INTERPRETATION: Perinatal factors, lower socio-economic status, and consanguinity
emerged as predictors of neurological disorders. These factors are largely
modifiable.
CI - (c) The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (c) 2013 Mac Keith
Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS