Assessment Of Sociodemographic, Adaptive Functions And Anthropometric Features In Children With Idd- An Exploratory Study

BACKGROUND: Intellectual disability is characterized by both intellectual and adaptive deficits. Factors like genetics, malnutrition, peripartum insults, inadequate healthcare amenities all contribute to the causation and severity of the problem. As a major healthcare burden, the exact socio demographic factors, obstetric factors associated with this population along with their physical growth and development needs to be studied. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: • To describe and assess the sociodemographic and obstetric related variables in the study population • To study anthropometric characteristics of children with IDD. • To assess the socio adaptive functions of children with IDD. METHODOLOGY: The cross sectional and exploratory study was carried out in LGBRIMH involving 60 children diagnosed with IDD and their parents. After evaluation, based on clinical diagnosis and proper explanation about the study, subjects were incorporated after taking informed consents from parents of the children. Socio demographic and clinical factors were assessed as per proforma. Anthropometric measurements of the children were measured and plotted on growth charts. Adaptive functions were assessed by Vineland Social Maturity Scale. Descriptive statistical analysis was done along with chi square test to evaluate for association between the study variables and the severity of IDD. RESULT: The current study showed that most of the study population belonged to lower socio economic status and had less than 4 ante natal visits during pregnancy. It was noted that all the children had growth impairment. Among adaptive functions, communication, socialization and self direction was seen to be affected across all the severity grades of intellectual disability disorder. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that awareness about safe birth practices was less. Adaptive functions were more affected in specific domains across all severity levels of IDD which can provide a direction towards adapting necessary training and rehabilitation facilities.