Clinical Profile and Demographics of Childhood Disability: Insights from a Major Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of childhood disabilities within a specific population and to identify the most common type of disability through an analysis of demographic and socioeconomic profiles.

Setting and Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using purposive sampling technique at Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Shifa, a leading tertiary care hospital, in the rehabilitation and pediatric outpatient departments.

Methodology: A sample of 109 children aged 12 years or younger, with disabilities, who visited the rehabilitation and physiotherapy OPD over a 6-month period, were included. Data collection was carried out through direct interviews with the guardian of the visiting patients, utilizing a customized questionnaire.

Results: The study comprised 109 children with disabilities, both congenital and acquired, with an average age of 5.4 ± 3.8 years. The majority consisted of male (61%) and female (39%) individuals. The most prevalent disability was cerebral palsy (47%), followed by global developmental delay (25%), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (1%), and Down syndrome (4%). Approximately 1% of the children exhibited vision and hearing impairments, while an overwhelming 79% of their guardians reported consanguinity.

Approximately 1% of the children had vision and hearing impairment, and 79% of their guardians were consanguineous.

Conclusion: Among the range of disabilities observed at PNS Shifa Hospital, cerebral palsy emerged as the most common in the pediatric population. The comprehensive data on demographics and associated risk factors has the potential to provide invaluable insights to healthcare providers and policymakers, facilitating the refinement of existing services and the formulation of rehabilitation strategies focused on enhancing the quality of life for children with disabilities.