Kap of Legal Representatives of Pediatricpatients With Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the Psychiatry Clinic, GPHC, August 1 to December 31,2022
Introduction
Introduction: According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of MentalDisorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), neurodevelopmental disorders are agroup ofconditions characterized by impairments in cognition,communication, behaviour, and/or motor skills due to abnormal braindevelopment. Itsprevalence exceeds 15% worldwide. They encompassAutism SpectrumDisorder (ASD), Attention Deficit HyperactivityDisorder (ADHD),Intellectual Disability (ID), Communication Disorders,SpecificLearning Disorders, and Motor Disorders. Unfortunately, thereare noavailable statistics for most neurodevelopmental disorders inGuyana. As such, research on neurodevelopmental disorders is warranted,andmore needs to be done to increase awareness ofneurodevelopmentaldisorders in Guyana. Therefore, this research soughtto investigate the”KAP of legal representatives of pediatric patientswithNeurodevelopmental disorders at the Psychiatry Clinic, GPHC,August1 to December 31, 2022.”
Objectives
Objective: To characterize the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices oflegalrepresentatives of patients 2 to 18 years old diagnosed withcommonneurodevelopmental disorders.
Method
Methods: Study design: Cross-sectional, observational study. Study population: 60 legal representatives of patients 2 to 18 yearsolddiagnosed with ASD, ADHD and ID who attended the PsychiatryClinicduring the specified study period. Dependent variables: Level of knowledge, attitudes and practices of legalrepresentatives. Independent variables: Demographic information of legalrepresentatives (relationship to child, age, sex, ethnicity, religion, maritalstatus, level of education, occupation), demographic information ofchildren (age, sex, school attendance, type of education), and sourcesofinformation.
Results
Results: Participants who had children with ASD (41%), ADHD (46%), and ID (76%)demonstrated poor knowledge. Those who had children with ASD(54.5%),ADHD (69%) and ID (76%) had somewhat positive attitudes.Negativepractices were observed in 56%, 31% and 36% of participantswith ID,ADHD and ASD children respectively.
Conclusion
Conclusion: Majority of legal representatives of children with ASD, ADHD andIDdemonstrated poor levels of knowledge. Majority of participantswithASD and ADHD children had somewhat positive attitudes andpractices.However, majority of participants with ID childrendemonstratednegative practices.
Recommendations
Recommendations: Develop health education programs focused onneurodevelopmentaldisorders. Increase awareness of neurodevelopmental disorders to the publicvia the media and health talks. Encourage parents to create group discussions on ASD, ADHD and ID,where they can exchange information under observation fromcommunityhealth personnel(s) and provide support to each other.