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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Psychol.
Sec. Neuropsychology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1426870

Mapping neuro-disabilities through their dimensions among the under five children in the southern agricultural corridor of Tanzania: A Preliminary Baseline survey

Provisionally accepted
Peter Chilipweli Peter Chilipweli 1*Namanya Basinda Namanya Basinda 1Paul Alikado Sabuni Paul Alikado Sabuni 1Fredy Hyera Fredy Hyera 1Upendojackline Liana Upendojackline Liana 1Titus Robert Leeyio Titus Robert Leeyio 1Elias C Nyanza Elias C Nyanza 1Vera Ngowi Vera Ngowi 2Awerasia vera ngowi Awerasia vera ngowi 2
  • 1 Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS), Bugando, Tanzania
  • 2 Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Neuro-disabilities involve impairments related to the nervous system, affecting brain development and functioning. Due to limited scientific data on neuro-disabilities in Tanzania, this study examines maternal characteristics in high-risk areas like the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor (SAGCOT).This cross-sectional study sampled 286 children aged 0-5 years and their mothers in the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT). From each mother, the youngest child within the specified age range was selected. Multi-stage sampling was used to choose clusters and areas for the study. The Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool (M-DAT) screened the children's developmental levels. Descriptive analysis determined the distribution, while multivariate analyses were performed on significant factors. Modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).The study included 286 mother-child pairs from four clusters: Ihemi, Kilombero, Ludewa, and Mbarali. The children's median age was 24 months, mostly ranging from 13 to 48 months, with a slight male majority (59.4%). Most mothers were married (72.4%), had primary education (56.6%), and were engaged in non-farming occupations (56.3%). Global neurodevelopmental impairment showed 11.2% of children were developed, while 88.8% were less developed. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with 95% confidence intervals revealed significant associations between developmental domains in children and demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, and maternal occupation.The study identifies high prevalence rates of neuro-disability in Tanzania's southern corridor, highlighting disparities across regions and the impact of gender and marital status.Targeted interventions are essential to address developmental challenges effectively and promote optimal child development and well-being.

    Keywords: Neuro-disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Prevalence, Targeted interventions

    Received: 08 Jun 2024; Accepted: 13 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Chilipweli, Basinda, Sabuni, Hyera, Liana, Leeyio, Nyanza, Ngowi and ngowi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Peter Chilipweli, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS), Bugando, Tanzania

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