Biological factors of Mental Retardation among the tribal population in Dinajpur

Abstract

This research was designed mainly to study the biological factors of mental retardation among the tribal population in Dinajpur area of Bangladesh. Randomly selected 83 tribal and 78 non-tribal cases of mental retardation were studied. The mentally retarded subjects live in different villages of Dinajpur area in Bangladesh. The age ranges of the subjects are between 2 and 38 years. 105 cases are male and 56 cases are female. Out of total 161 cases 11 are Down's syndrome, 14 are cranial anomalies, 5 are Cretinism and 131 are cultural familial cases. Only 15 cases are simple mental retardation cases. Others have different handicapped conditions with mental retardation. The researcher used a checklist to assess the degree of handicapped conditions of the subjects. A case history form was used to trace the possible factors of mental retardation. The researcher also observed the cases at their home and during different social interactions. He interviewed the parents, guardians, family members and neighbors of the subjects to understand the real situation. Field studies were done from July 2000 to June 2003. Each case was observed on several days. The major objectives of the study were to identify the biological factors of mental retardation among the tribal and the non-tribal population, compare the factors of the tribal and non-tribal subjects, study the degree and severity of the problems of the mentally retarded persons and to suggest ways and means to prevent mental retardation in the study areas. Though the study was a survey of a small geographical area of the country, it is expected that the findings will help the medical scientists, concerned professionals and policy makers to plan and implement appropriate steps to prevent birth of men tally retarded children in Bangladesh. It is also assumed that the findings will help facilitate formulation of a National Policy for the mentally retarded persons in Bangladesh. The researcher did not identify a single factor or few factors which are exclusively related to the birth of mentally retarded children among the tribal population in Dinajpur area. Many well known factors are there among the tribal population. All these factors work together for birth of the mentally retarded children. These factors are poor nutrition of the pregnant mothers, infantile illnesses of the subjects including high fever, meningitis, infection, etc. Smoking and wine intake of the mothers, illnesses and diseases of the pregnant mothers, defective birth process, prolonged labour, etc. are important factors of mental retardation in the tribal population. There are many factors which are common biological factors for both the tribal and non-tribal cases of mental retardation. These are: lower age of the mothers before pregnancy, diseases and illnesses of the parents before conception, poor nutrition of the pregnant mothers, difficult births after prolonged labour pain, faulty treatment and indiscriminate use of medicines by the pregnant mothers, illness and diseases of the infants and babies, etc. Now it has become essential to promote awareness about mental retardation among the tribal population in Dinajpur. The Christian Missionary Groups can undertake a programmed to promote the awareness. If the Health Directorate of Bangladesh Government insists or motivates the Christian Missionary Groups, they will definitely undertake the awareness development programs which will be more effective than the programs of other organizations. The tribal people of Dinajpur are also the citizen of this country. They pay taxes, they cast votes and they are hard working honest people. But they are deprived from many socioeconomic development programs sponsored by the Government. It seems that the life and living of these people are more controlled by the Christian Missionary Groups than the Government. But in Dinajpur area the Christian Missionary Groups did not promote suitable health care facilities, clinics and hospitals for the tribal people. Therefore, it has become necessary for the Government to look into the matter and promote some specialized health care facilities for the tribal people. Government health care programs will also help prevention of further birth of the mentally retarded children in the area.