Prevalence and risk factors of neurological disability and impairment in children living in rural Kenya

Mung'ala-Odera, V; Meehan, R; Njuguna, P; Mturi, N; Alcock, K; Newton, CRJC

Neuroscience & Neuroimaging Research Collection

Journal article

Prevalence and risk factors of neurological disability and impairment in children living in rural Kenya

Abstract:: Background There is little data on the burden of neurological impairment (NI) in developing countries, particularly in children of Africa.
Methods We conducted a survey of NI in children aged 6–9 years in a rural district of Kenya. First, we screened for neurological disability by administering the Ten Questions Questionnaire (TQQ) to parents/guardians of children in a defined population. In phase two, we performed a comprehensive clinical and psychological assessment on children who tested positive on TQQ and on a similar number of children who tested negative.
Results A total of 10 218 children were screened, of whom 955 (9.3%) were positive on TQQ. Of these, 810 (84.8%) were assessed, and of those who tested negative 766 (8.3%) were assessed. The prevalence for moderate/severe NI was 61/1000 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 48–74]. The most common domains affected were epilepsy (41/1000), cognition (31/1000), and hearing (14/1000). Motor (5/1000) and vision (2/1000) impairments were less common. Of the neurologically impaired children (n = 251), 56 (22%) had more than one impairment. Neonatal insults were found to have a significant association with moderate/severe NI in both the univariate [odds ratio (OR) = 1.70; 95% CI 1.12–2.47] and multivariate analyses (OR = 1.30; 95% CI 1.09–1.65).
Conclusions There is a considerable burden of moderate/severe NI in this area of rural Kenya, with epilepsy, cognition, and hearing being the most common domains affected. Neonatal insults were identified as an important risk factor.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Mung'ala-Odera, V., Meehan, R., Njuguna, P., Mturi, N., Alcock, K., & Newton, C. R. J. C. (2006). Prevalence and risk factors of neurological disability and impairment in children living in rural Kenya. International Journal of Epidemiology, 35(3), 683–688.

MLA Style

Mung'ala-Odera, V, et al. “Prevalence and Risk Factors of Neurological Disability and Impairment in Children Living in Rural Kenya.” International Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 35, no. 3, 2006, pp. 683–88.

Chicago Style

Mung'ala-Odera, V, R Meehan, P Njuguna, N Mturi, K Alcock, and CRJC Newton. 2006. “Prevalence and Risk Factors of Neurological Disability and Impairment in Children Living in Rural Kenya.” International Journal of Epidemiology 35 (3): 683–88.
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