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Adaptive functioning and its associated factors among girl children residing in slum areas of Bhubaneswar, India
Author(s) -
Panigrahi Ansuman,
Das Sai C,
Sahoo Prabhudarsan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.13666
Subject(s) - slum , girl , medicine , disadvantaged , vineland adaptive behavior scale , population , cluster sampling , multivariate analysis , mental health , developmental psychology , gerontology , environmental health , adaptive behavior , psychology , psychiatry , political science , law
Aim Adaptive functioning develops throughout early childhood, and its limitation is a reflection that the child has developmental or emotional problems or even mental retardation. Little is known about the adaptive functioning or developmental status of slum children. The present cross‐sectional study was undertaken during the year 2014 to assess the status of adaptive functioning among girl children aged between 3 and 9 years residing in slum areas of Bhubaneswar and to explore the factors associated with poor adaptive functioning. Methods Stratified multi‐stage cluster random sampling technique was used to select the study population; 256 mother–child pairs from 256 households in selected slum areas were studied. Demographic information was collected, and adaptive functioning was assessed using the modified Vineland Social Maturity Scale. Univariate and multivariate analyses was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences ( SPSS ) version 21. Results One‐fifth (54, 21%) of the girls sampled had poor adaptive functioning, and 44 (17%) had poor cognitive functioning. Multivariate analysis revealed that the age of the child, parents’ education, presence of stunting in children and attending school/early childhood centre were strong predictors of adaptive functioning in slum children. Conclusion One‐fifth of girls from slums are developmentally vulnerable; parental education, stunting and early childhood education or exposure to schooling are modifiable factors influencing children's adaptive functioning. Health, education and welfare sectors need to be aware of this so that a multi‐pronged approach can be planned to properly address this issue in one of the most disadvantaged sections of the society.