Behavioral management in children with intellectual disabilities in a resource-poor setting in Barwani, India

BACKGROUND: Management of behavioral problems in children with intellectual disabilities (ID) is a great concern in resource-poor areas in India. This study attempted to analyze the efficacy of behavioral intervention provided in resource-poor settings. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to examine the outcome of behavioral management provided to children with ID in a poor rural region in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from 104 children between 3 and 18 years old who received interventions for behavioral problems in a clinical or a community setting. The behavioral assessment scale for Indian children with mental retardation (BASIC-MR) was used to quantify the study subjects’ behavioral problems before and after we applied behavioral management techniques (baseline and post-intervention, respectively). The baseline and post-intervention scores were analyzed using the following statistical techniques: Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test for the efficacy of intervention; χ(2) for group differences. RESULTS: The study demonstrated behavioral improvements across all behavior domains (P < 0.05). Levels of improvement varied for children with different severities of ID (P = 0.001), between children who did and did not have multiple disabilities (P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: The outcome of this behavioral management study suggests that behavioral intervention can be effectively provided to children with ID in poor areas.