CAUSES & PREVENTION OF

DISABILITIES.

Dr Saim Ali Soomro.

MBBS,MCCM.
*Core Public Health Functions for BC: Evidence Review
Prevention of Disabilities (Congenital & Genetic) Ministry of Health 2008

Disability prevention needs awareness…

What is Disability ?
Disabilities is an umbrella term, covering impairments,
activity limitations, and participation restrictions.
An impairment is a problem in body function or structure;
an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an
individual in executing a task or action; while
a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an
individual in involvement in life situations. Thus, disability is
a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between
features of a person’s body and features of the society in
which he or she lives.[1]
Causes of Disabilities

 Disabilitycan happen to Any one…at any age..and

due to any Circumstances.
 We can divide etiology into many type of
Classification models.
 Causes …Social /Medical.
Pre Natal Causes:  Teratogens: agents causing a defect in a
The period
• developing embryo or fetus
between conception
to birth .  Infections
•Germinal period  Radiation
10-14 days long,
Embryonic stage 2-  Maternal nutrition
8th week. Fetal
stage (8th week to  Maternal stress
termination of
pregnancy).  Low birth weight
•  Chromosomal disorders
over 3,000 different
•  Developmental disorders of brain formation
genetic causes of
disability  Environmental influences
Peri natal causes •Anoxia and asphyxia
•Prematurity- prior to 37 weeks
•Low birth weight –under 5 ½ pounds
•Hemorrhages
•Metabolic problems
•Seizures
•Birth problems
Multiple births
Abnormal presentation
prolapsed umbilical cord
•Respiratory distress syndrome
lack of surfactant (coats the alveoli)Can result in collapsed alveoli
•Jaundice
•Rhesus incompatibility
Postnatal causes
 Quality of attachment
 Illnesses/ Medicines Thalidomide
legal drugs (alcohol, nicotine,
 Encephalitis caffeine), prescription drugs (some
antibiotics, hormones, steroids,
 Meningitis anticoagulants, anticonvulsants,
tranquilizers, methadone),
illegal drugs (cocaine, heroin,
 Poisoning marijuana), and environmental
pollutants (including lead, Arsenic,
 Malnutrition methyl mercury, and polychlorinated
biphenyls, or PCBs).
 Injuries
 Psychosocial factors
Social correlates
Low SES
Nutrition
Poverty
Family size
Low maternal intelligence
Low maternal educational level
Absence of parents
Language environment
Psychological correlates
Child rearing practices
Abuse and neglect
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Head injuries
Genetic disorders
A normal female
genetic map.

Down syndrome.

Edwards syndrome.

Patau syndrome.

Albert’s, Alports,
Morquo’s & many
many more.

ADHD, Albinos, Night

blindness, hearing loss
in
families..Hemophilias,
Sickle cell disease,
Thallesemias.
Genetic Disorders
Some prime  Genetic Disorders can cause :
examples of  Blindness.
Mental
 Hearing impairments.
retardations
as a result of  Physical disabilities.
Genetic
disorders  Mental impairments.
are……. Ct  Chronic & familial diseases like dementias, Diabetes
to next Mellitus, CVDs, etc which can lead to various
page..
disabilities.
Down Syndrome
Trisomy 21
Turner’s syndrome
 Affects females
 Incomplete x chromosome
 Short stature
 Webbed neck
 Low hairline in back
 Skeletal deformities
Fragile X Syndrome
 Mental retardation In males, generally see a
Hyperactivity
Short attention span decrease in IQs over time
*Tactilely defensive Concrete thinking
Hand-flapping
Hand-biting Facial features:
Poor eye contact Long face
*Perseverative speech
*Hyperextensible MP joints High arched palate
Large or prominent ears Long ears
Large testicles
*Simian crease or Sydney line In females, less like to have a
Family history of mental label of retardation; less
retardation
severe features
Diagnosis, Prevention & Treatment
 Pre-conception programs
 α Pre-conception programs can prevent birth
 defects and low birth weight through targeting
 smoking cessation, pregnancy intervals, folic
 acid supplementation and interventions with
 women with diabetes to improve control of
 blood sugar levels.
 Maternal serum screening (MSS) and ultrasound can
 detect some congenital anomalies.
 α A large proportion of women are choosing
 termination following positive screening tests.
 α Disparities may exist in accessing MSS and
 termination with respect to education and culture.
Exposure to Environmental Risk factors
 There is evidence of increased risk of congenital
Better
•
anomalies and low birth weight for babies born to women
diabetic
exposed to higher than normal levels of some
management.
environmental contaminants.
MMR
•
 Attention to the level of contaminants by
vaccination.
 monitoring water, air, industrial and waste sites,
Tetanus
•
and occupational exposure is warranted.
vaccination.
Pesticide exposure in agricultural communities,
and in agricultural workers and their families,
merits monitoring
Prevention of Disabilities
A strong  Starts from genetic assessment of
system of
perinatal aspiring couples.
assessment
s, serial ultra
 Maternal Serum Assessment.
sounds,
biochemical
 Amniotic fluid examination.
& Blood  Prevention of infection (MMR)
tests.
 Folate & Iron Supplemets.
Prevention of Disabilities
Folic acid  Maternal ultra sounds.
supplements
 Intra uterine surgeries to correct
deformities.
 Nutritional support
Prevention…….
New born  New Born Screening, Diagnosis
Screening is
most and treatment or earliest possible
important. rehabilitation.
 Earliest possible enrolment in
family, community rehab systems.
 CORE PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEW OF BC.

Prevention of
Disabilities
(Congenital & Genetic)
Population Health and Wellness
BC Ministry OF HEALTH…2008.

*Medscape.com

Thank you………!

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