Validation of the Key Informant Method to Identify Children with Disabilities: Methods and Results from a Pilot Study in Bangladesh

Abstract

KIs were able to identify children with epilepsy, sensory and physical impairments. KIM is an effective and low-cost method to identify children with disability in a low-income setting.

Reasons for non-uptake of referral: children with disabilities identified through the Key Informant Method in Bangladesh

“…The study built upon a wider research project focusing on the identification of children with disabling impairments living in the community in Bangladesh using the Key Informant Method (KIM) [11]. Of the children who were offered a referral as part of this project, over 52% did not take up their referral.…”

“…Building on research that shows Key Informants are a successful and cost-effective community mobilisation strategy for the detection of disability in poor resource settings [19][20][21][22], the International Centre for Eye Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Child Sight Foundation in Dhaka, engaged in the development, testing, validation and evaluation of the KIM to identify children with disability living in the community in Bangladesh [11]. Working in the Rajshaji division across 15 sub-districts in Sirajganj, Natore and Bogra, Key Informants were trained to identify children with epilepsy; children with bilateral visual or hearing impairments; and children with physical impairments as a result of cerebral palsy, clubfoot and cleft lip or palate.…”

Perceptual visual dysfunction, physical impairment and quality of life in Bangladeshi children with cerebral palsy

“…The diagnosis of CP was confirmed by examination by two paediatricians at the time of the initial survey 17. A total of 295 children with CP had been identified of which 180 were selected for this study stratified by age (90 aged 4–8, and 90 aged 9–15).…”

“…The identification of visual perception dysfunction is challenging and standardised methods of identification have yet to be developed 22 23. However visual perception dysfunction has been shown to impact negatively on quality of life measures in children with autism 17. Further recent research supports an important comorbid effect on overall disability from visual perception difficulties in children with CP 22–24.…”

Hearing screening techniques for referral purposes: Our experience from a rural setting

“…The utilization of these set of health workers can be modelled like the key informant method program in Bangladesh to detect/refer hearing impaired adults and children within communities thereby helping to reduce the untoward effect of hearing loss in these societies. [5] This approach is still in use in Bangladesh with good results. Similarly, training the community healthcare worker in our environment for the sole purpose of ear and hearing care and the political will to do so is lacking and as such sourcing for funds for deafness prevention programs is equally a herculean task.…”