STUDY OF HEALTH STATUS AND ETIOLOGICAL FACTORS OF MENTALLY CHALLENGED CHILDREN IN SCHOOL FOR MENTALLY CHALLENGED

The mental health of the child affects his physical health and the learning process. The present study was conducted to study the health status and etiological factors among 58 mentally challenged children in school for mentally challenged at Sangamner. Majority of mentally challenged children (68.0%) were in 5-9 years age group. Most of them had moderate retardation. (43.0%) In majority of children (70.68%)no clinical syndrome was present. Most common clinical syndrome was Down’s syndrome (17.23%),followed by Fragile X syndrome (6.89%). More than sixty percent children were off springs of consanguineous marriages. Idiopathic causes (63.8%) followed by genetic causes (29.31%) were common etiological factor responsible for mental retardation. Mental handicap can be prevented by genetic counseling.