Developmental delay and disability among under--5 children in a rural ICDS block

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Developmental Disabilities

Background:

• Childhood developmental delays, deformities, and disabilities are significant public health concerns.
• Early identification and intervention are critical for improving outcomes in children.
• Understanding prevalence in specific geographic areas informs targeted public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of developmental delay, deformity, and disability in children aged 0-5 years.
• To analyze prevalence rates within different age subgroups (0-2 years and 2-5 years).
• To provide data with policy implications for childhood disability identification in rural India.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted in a randomly selected Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) block in Alappuzha District, Kerala, India.
• The study population comprised 12,520 children aged 0-5 years.
• Prevalence was calculated based on the number of children identified with developmental delay, deviation, deformity, or disability.

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of developmental delay, deformity, or disability in children aged 0-5 years was 2.5% (95% CI, 2.22-2.77).
• Prevalence among children up to 2 years was 2.31% (95% CI, 1.91-2.71).
• Prevalence among children aged 2 to 5 years was 2.62% (95% CI, 2.25-2.99).

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a notable prevalence of developmental disabilities in young children in the studied rural ICDS block.
• Findings underscore the need for robust community-based screening and identification programs for childhood disabilities.
• The data has significant implications for public health policy and resource allocation for early intervention services.