Prevalence Estimates of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDD) in a South Indian Population

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) represent a significant public health concern globally, yet comprehensive prevalence data in India, a nation with 1.4 billion inhabitants, remains scarce. Limited systematic investigations have hindered effective public health planning.

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of NDDs within a local Panchayath population in Kottayam, Kerala, employing a community-based methodology.

A two-phase cross-sectional study was conducted. Phase I involved a door-to-door survey to screen for NDDs, targeting the entire Panchayath population. In Phase II, individuals screened as at-risk underwent detailed clinical assessments. The collected data were analysed to determine the overall and specific prevalence of various NDDs.

The overall prevalence of NDDs in the surveyed population (n = 26,465) after Phase II was 0.80% (1 in 125), with a significantly higher prevalence of 1.38% (1 in 72) in children under 12 years. The prevalence rates of specific disorders included epilepsy (0.38%, 0.50% in children), specific learning disability (0.10%, 0.29% in children), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (0.05%, 0.32% in children), developmental language disorder (0.026%, 0.029% in children), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (0.02%, 0.06% in children).

A key strength of the study was its inclusion of the entire Panchayath population in Phase I, filling a significant gap in the literature on NDD prevalence at the community level in India. As one of the first community-level estimates, it underscores the need for targeted public health strategies, particularly for children. The findings offer crucial data to guide policymakers and public health officials in planning interventions to reduce the burden of NDDs in the region.