Its a General , Genetic, Medical ,Psychological and Social causes & Prevention of Disabilities.

1. 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…

2. 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]

3. Causes of Disabilities
 Disability can happen to Any one…at any age..and
due to any Circumstances.
We can divide etiology into many type of
Classification models.

4. Causes …Social /Medical.
Pre Natal Causes:
•The period
between conception
to birth .
•Germinal period
10-14 days long,
Embryonic stage 2-
8th week. Fetal
stage (8th week to
termination of
pregnancy).
•
•over 3,000 different
genetic causes of
disability
 Teratogens: agents causing a defect in a
developing embryo or fetus
 Infections
 Radiation
 Maternal nutrition
 Maternal stress
 Low birth weight
 Chromosomal disorders
 Developmental disorders of brain formation
 Environmental influences

5. 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

6. Postnatal causes
Thalidomide
legal drugs (alcohol, nicotine,
caffeine), prescription drugs (some
antibiotics, hormones, steroids,
anticoagulants, anticonvulsants,
tranquilizers, methadone),
illegal drugs (cocaine, heroin,
marijuana), and environmental
pollutants (including lead, Arsenic,
methyl mercury, and polychlorinated
biphenyls, or PCBs).
 Quality of attachment
 Illnesses/ Medicines
 Encephalitis
 Meningitis
 Poisoning
 Malnutrition
 Injuries

7. 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

8. 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.

9. Genetic Disorders
Some prime
examples of
Mental
retardations
as a result of
Genetic
disorders
are……. Ct
to next
page..
 Genetic Disorders can cause :
 Blindness.
 Hearing impairments.
 Physical disabilities.
 Mental impairments.
 Chronic & familial diseases like dementias, Diabetes
Mellitus, CVDs, etc which can lead to various
disabilities.

10. Down Syndrome
Trisomy 21

11. Turner’s syndrome
 Affects females
 Incomplete x chromosome
 Short stature
 Webbed neck
 Low hairline in back
 Skeletal deformities

12. Fragile X Syndrome
 Mental retardation
Hyperactivity
Short attention span
*Tactilely defensive
Hand-flapping
Hand-biting
Poor eye contact
*Perseverative speech
*Hyperextensible MP joints
Large or prominent ears
Large testicles
*Simian crease or Sydney line
Family history of mental
retardation
In males, generally see a
decrease in IQs over time
Concrete thinking
Facial features:
Long face
High arched palate
Long ears
In females, less like to have a
label of retardation; less
severe features

13. 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.

14. Exposure to Environmental Risk factors
•Better
diabetic
management.
•MMR
vaccination.
•Tetanus
vaccination.
 There is evidence of increased risk of congenital
anomalies and low birth weight for babies born to women
exposed to higher than normal levels of some
environmental contaminants.
 Attention to the level of contaminants by
 monitoring water, air, industrial and waste sites,
and occupational exposure is warranted.
Pesticide exposure in agricultural communities,
and in agricultural workers and their families,
merits monitoring

15. Prevention of Disabilities
A strong
system of
perinatal
assessment
s, serial ultra
sounds,
biochemical
& Blood
tests.
 Starts from genetic assessment of
aspiring couples.
 Maternal Serum Assessment.
 Amniotic fluid examination.
 Prevention of infection (MMR)
 Folate & Iron Supplemets.

16. Prevention of Disabilities
Folic acid
supplements
 Maternal ultra sounds.
 Intra uterine surgeries to correct
deformities.
 Nutritional support

17. Prevention…….
New born
Screening is
most
important.
 New Born Screening, Diagnosis
and treatment or earliest possible
rehabilitation.
 Earliest possible enrolment in
family, community rehab systems.

18. CORE PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEW OF BC.
Prevention of
Disabilities
(Congenital & Genetic)
Population Health and Wellness
BC Ministry OF HEALTH…2008.
16x9
*Medscape.com
4x3
Thank you………!