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  • Title: 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.
    Author: Lahiri SK, Mukhopadhyay SP, Das KK, Ray SK, Biswas D.
    Journal: Indian J Public Health; 1994; 38(4):133-42. PubMed ID: 7797312.
    Abstract:
    There are many factors which affect intelligence as well as physical growth of children, although genetic factor plays a prime role but social, environmental and psychological factors influence significantly the physical growth and intelligence of the child and the same can be improved through intervention. Community based studies are therefore useful to understand effect of these factors for future planning. The present study was therefore undertaken in Burdwan district of West Bengal with the objectives of studying level of intelligence of children of 3 to 6 years age group and impact of the factors related to the level of intelligence of these children. 72 children of 3 to 6 years age group were studied, of which 2/3 were either normal or having Grade-I undernutrition and the rest were either Grade-II or Grade-III. A significant positive association was found between DST IQ score (Bharat Raj) and the nutritional grade. Non-formal education also was found to have significant bearing on the IQ level. No significant relationship was however found between DST IQ score and the religion indicating culture independence of the scoring system. 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.
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