Study of the impact of epidemiological factors on intelligence of rural children of 3 to 6 years age group belonging to low socio-economic status
Lahiri, S.K.; Mukhopadhyay, S.P.; Das, K.K.; Ray, S.K.; Biswas, D.
Indian Journal of Public Health 38(4): 133-142
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-557X PMID: 7797312 Document Number: 290389
During January-December 1991 in India, door-to-door visits were made at 59 households with at least one child 3-6 years old in the field practice area of Burdwan Medical College in West Bengal. The researchers wanted to examine the intelligence level of the children and the effect on their intelligence of associated factors such as nutrition, socioeconomic status, and environment. There were 72 children 3-6 years old. Mean family size was 6.9. The houses were in poor condition. 47.5% of families defecated in open fields. 36.11% of the children had either grade II or grade III malnutrition. 66.7% of the children had a Developmental Screening Test (DST) IQ score within the normal range (85-115). 30.6% had borderline scores (68-84). Two children were mildly retarded (52-67). Neither religion nor socioeconomic status influenced the IQ level. The proportion of normal IQ children who have had nonformal schooling was much greater than that of normal IQ children who have not had nonformal schooling (88.6% vs. 45.9%; p 0.01). Children of normal and grade I nutritional status were more likely to have a normal IQ level than those with grade II or grade III malnutrition (75% and 77.3% vs. 57.1% and 20%, respectively; p 0.05). Nonformal education had a significant independent effect on the IQ level (Z = 3.03; p 0.05), while nutritional status did not have a significant independent effect (Z = 1.39; p 0.05). There was a positive significant association between DST IQ score and sitting height (r = 0.27; p 0.05) and head circumference (r = 0.27; p 0.05). These findings indicate the need for a balanced diet and nonformal education to foster child development, especially intelligence, during the first six years of life.