Neurocognitive deficits in children aged between 7-12years: a comparative study between institutionalized and family raised children.

Abstract

It is estimated that over 200 million children fail to meet their developmental potential because of poverty, poor health and non-stimulating environments. Many abandoned and orphaned children spend their early life in orphanages which tend to be significantly depriving. There are high child-caregiver proportions, frequent change of caregivers, inadequate resources and little or no cognitive stimulation). Walker reported that lack of cognitive stimulation, stunting, iron deficiency, iodine deficiency Anemia were the main risks of neurocognitive deficits. Early researchers found that children raised in children homes showed a variety of neurocognitive deficits compared to their counterparts raised in natural families or foster care. Aim: This study was designed to assess the neurocognitive deficits among children aged 7-12years raised in a children home and how they compare with their counterparts raised in natural families. Method: A total of 56 children from the children’s home and 56 from biological families were recruited. The neurocognitive scaled scores for children raised in biological families were significantly higher than institutionalized children in three subdomains, Sequential Processing (Mean= 62 vs 59, P. value 0.013); Simultaneous processing (Mean= 72 vs 64, P. value 0.013); and Learning (Mean= 127 vs 118, P. value 0.01). Overall the Global MPI (Mental Processing Index) for children raised in biological families (Mean= 75; -2SD (Below Average) while the institutionalized children (Mean= 70 which is -2SD Below Average). This was significant with a P. value of 0.01. Conclusion: There was higher neurocognitive deficits among 7-12 years old children raised in institutional care than their counterparts raised in natural biological homes. Therefore by all means where possible children are better raised in Biological families.