Study of health status and etiological factors of mentally challenged children

The mental health of the child affects hisphysical health and the learningprocess. The aim of the present studywas to study the health status andetiological factors among 58 mentallychallenged children in a school formentally challenged at Sangamner, inRural Maharashtra. Majority of mentallychallenged children (68.0%) were in 5-9years age group. Most of them hadmoderate retardation. (43.0%) Inmajority of children (70.68%) no clinicalsyndrome was present. Most commonclinical syndrome was Down’s syndrome(17.23%), followed by Fragile Xsyndrome (6.89%). 60.35% childrenwere off springs of consanguineousmarriages. Idiopathic causes (63.8%)followed by genetic causes (29.31%)were common etiological factorresponsible for mental retardation.Mental handicap should be preventedby application of preventive measures inpreconception, prenatal and intranatalperiods and during infancy, childhoodand adolescence.