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Identifying Children with Intellectual Disabilities in the Tribal Population of Barwani District in State of Madhya Pradesh, India
Author(s) -
Lakhan Ram,
Mawson Anthony R.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/jar.12171
Subject(s) - focus group , intellectual disability , population , psychological intervention , qualitative property , medicine , psychology , family medicine , gerontology , environmental health , psychiatry , sociology , machine learning , anthropology , computer science
Background Low‐and middle‐income countries ( LAMI ) lack an integrated and systematic approach to identify people with intellectual disabilities. Screening surveys are considered resource‐intensive; therefore, alternative approaches are needed. This study attempted to identify children up to age 18 years with intellectual disabilities through a mixed‐method approach involving focus group interviews ( FGI s) and door‐to‐door surveys. Materials and Methods Focus groups were conducted with the assistance and involvement of local leaders in four villages of Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh with a 99% tribal population in all four villages. A formal survey of the community was then conducted to determine the prevalence of intellectual disabilities based on a standardized screening instrument ( NIMH ‐ DDS ). Results Thirty focus group interviews were conducted involving 387 participants (males 284, females 103) over a period of 13 days. The entire adult population ( N = 8797) was then surveyed for intellectual disabilities using a standardized screening instrument. The data revealed a close similarity in the prevalence rates of intellectual disabilities, as determined by the two approaches (Focus Group Interviews, 5.22/1000 versus Survey, 5.57/1000). Conclusion A qualitative method using FGI s successfully identified people with intellectual disabilities in an economically deprived tribal area, showing that a community‐based approach provides a close estimate of intellectual disabilities based on a formal survey using standard diagnostic criteria. These data suggest that FGI , along with other qualitative data, could be helpful in designing and in serving as an entree for community‐based interventions.