Medicosocial characteristics as predictors of school achievements in students with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A follow-up study in ujjain and shajapur districts of Madhya Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT

Background: For a long time, there have been arguments about which factors influence the skill development of students with intellectual disability in rehabilitation centers. Objective: The present follow-up study was thus planned to analyze the effect of the demographic variables related to disabled child, his/her parents and the family; their schooling pattern and types of study settings and the associated comorbidities on improvement in the performance score of students attending these study settings in one academic year. Methods: The study was conducted among children (n = 204) with intellectual disability receiving rehabilitation services in centers run by a nongovernmental organization in two districts of Central India. Results: Application of regression analysis concluded that among various hypothesized factors higher birth order, more time spent by parents for child抯 development at home, high performing classes, absence of epilepsy, psychiatric comorbidities, and associated physically challenged were significantly associated with improvement in overall mean performance score. Conclusions: The study delineates the need to motivate parents, so that they can involve themselves to develop their child抯 full potential. Identification of associated comorbidities is recommended and parents need to be appraised accordingly.