Neurology Commons^™

Formal Comment: Diagnostic Labelling Of Mental Health In Young People: Perspectives From Kenya, South Africa And Zimbabwe, Rachel Maina, Marinos Lupindo, Charmaine Nyakonda, Tara Carney, Charity Mamathuba, Christine Musyimi, Charity Somo, Eleanor Chatburn

Brain and Mind Institute

No abstract provided.

Plasma Proteomic Profiles Of Alzheimer's Disease And Neurodegeneration In African Cohorts, Ilaria Pola, Tolulope Akinyemi, Kubra Tan, Oladotun Olalusi, Wiebke Traichel, Giulia Giacomucci, Joseph Yaria, Nesrine Rahmouni, Gabriel Ogunde, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) represents a growing public health burden, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, most studies focus on Non-Hispanic white (NHW) populations from high-income countries. This study investigates plasma proteomic signatures associated with amyloid pathology in African populations. Nigerian older adults from the VALIANT study and participants from a Tanzanian study, with available biomarker quantification in plasma are employed. For proteomic comparison, participants from the Canadian TRIAD cohort are included, capturing a distinct population. Here, we show that multiple proteins are differentially abundant in the plasma of p-tau217-positive individuals and in the different cognitive groups, …

A Blended Genome And Exome Sequencing Method Captures Genetic Variation In An Unbiased And Cost-Effective Manner, Toni Boltz, Benjamin Chu, Matthew Defelice, Calwing Liao, Julia Sealock, Robert Ye, Jacqueline Goldstein, Lerato Majara, Jack Fu, Lukoye Atwoli

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Here we developed and deployed the blended genome exome (BGE) method, a DNA library approach that generates low-pass whole-genome (1–4× mean depth) and deep whole-exome (30–40× mean depth) data in a single sequencing run. BGE is cost-effective, empowers most genomic discoveries possible with deep whole-genome sequencing and captures global common single-nucleotide polymorphism diversity. We applied BGE to sequence >53,000 samples from the PUMAS Project (Populations Underrepresented in Mental Illness Associations Studies), including African, African American and Latin American populations. Imputed genotypes showed high concordance with Illumina Global Screening Array calls (R2 ≥ 95% for minor allele frequency ≥1%; …

Development And Validation Of The Lifetime Sense Of Safety Scale In Kenyan Adults, Karen Blackmon, Anne Nyambura, Anne Gitere, Levi Muyela, Catherine Onyancha, Kendi Muchungi, Catherine Ajalo, Litha Musili, Rachel Maina, Edna Bosire, Lukoye Atwoli, Zul Merali, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

Background. Safety supports psychological wellbeing and potentially shapes brain aging yet existing scales overlook cumulative lifespan safety experiences.

Methods. To address this gap, we developed and validated the Lifetime Sense of Safety (LSS) scale in Kenyan adults. The LSS uses visual analog scaling with a red-to-green color gradient to retrospectively rate felt safety across life stages and settings. We evaluated scale psychometrics and associations with social determinants of health and indicators of brain health.

Results. The LSS shows adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability, with two distinct but correlated factors representing childhood and adulthood safety. Women and …

Contextual Variability In Under-Diagnosed Cardiometabolic Disease And Cognitive Vulnerability Among Populations At High Risk For Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias, Nwanyieze Jiakponnah, Joseph Curran, Tamlyn Watermeyer, Jasmit Shah, Litha Musili, Stanely Onyango, Benard Aliwa, Zul Merali, Karen Blackmon, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

Underdiagnosis of cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) may represent an unrecognised biological pathway contributing to dementia risk; yet remains poorly characterised in African and African diaspora populations. We quantified the prevalence and determinants of underdiagnosed hypertension and abnormal glycaemia across four cohorts comprising up to 7000 adults aged ≥40 years from Nigeria, Kenya, and The United States: Indianapolis, and North Texas. Underdiagnosis was defined as absence of self-reported diagnosis despite elevated systolic blood pressure ( ≥130 mmHg) or fasting blood glucose ( ≥100 mg/dL). Cohort-stratified analyses examined demographic, socioeconomic, cognitive, Alzheimer’s genetic, and blood-based biomarker correlates. Underdiagnosis was pervasive in African …

Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Kenyan Adolescents: Psychometric Properties, Prevalence Rates And Correlates, Tom Osborn, Rosine Baseke, Faith Kamau, Winnan Munyasa, Christine Wasanga, Maureen Ngesa, Victoria Mutiso, Moses Nyongesa, Jasmit Shah, Zul Merali

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been consistently linked to poor mental health outcomes, yet research on their impact in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) settings of Africa, remains relatively unexplored. In Kenya, where childhood adversity is widespread, there is a critical need to examine the validity of ACE measures and their associations with mental ill health. This study aimed to validate the Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire (ACE-10) in a Kenyan adolescent sample and assess its associations with symptoms of depression and anxiety, bullying, and sociodemographic factors.

Methods: Data was collected from N = 2,842 adolescents and young …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Mobile App And Wearable Device For Collecting Mental Health Survey And Passively Sensed Data Among Health Care Workers In Kenya: Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Linda Khakali, Andrew Aballa, Dorcas G. Mwigereri, Willie Njoroge, Rachel Maina, Amos Bunde, Peris Musitia, Moses Nyongesa, James Orwa, Jasmit Shah, Anthony Ngugi, Lukoye Atwoli, Amina Abubakar, Zul Merali

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Mobile apps and wearable devices may help to facilitate early detection of mental health conditions by providing objective, real-time data to supplement other forms of feedback and diagnoses. Few studies have investigated the acceptability and feasibility of using a mobile app to track survey- and wearable-based data in mental health research in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective: This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of using a mobile app and wearables to capture mental health–based survey data and passively sensed data among Kenyan health care workers.

Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted among health care workers …

Social Relationships, Mental Health, And Stigma: A Qualitative Study Of Social Networks And Hiv Disclosure In Western Kenya, Sarah Obatsa, Adel Mburia-Mwalili, Salvador Jauregui, Karla Wagner, Lukoye Atwoli, Francesca Odhiambo, Jayne Lewis-Kulzer, Suzanne Goodrich, Kara Wools-Kaloustian, Jennifer Syvertsen

Internal Medicine, East Africa

The disclosure of one’s HIV-positive status is a personal decision that can play an important role in engagement in HIV treatment and care. Social network approaches situate individuals within broader webs of social connections that influence health and wellbeing and thus hold the potential to elucidate key social factors shaping the process of disclosure. As part of a larger clinical study examining how substance use and mental health shape HIV outcomes, we recruited 61 individuals newly diagnosed with HIV at two clinics in Western Kenya to participate in an egocentric social networks study. We conducted a survey that generated a …

A Global Prospective Harmonization Framework For Suicidality, Anhedonia, And Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms In Psychiatric Genetic Studies: A Cross-Continental Study Within The Ancestral Population Network, Ana Diaz-Zuluaga, Jacey Anderberg, Ana Ramirez-Diaz, Andrea Marques, Catherine Rast, Daniel Bustamante, Deborah Jonker, Johanna Valencia-Echeverry, Stella Gichuru, Lukoye Atwoli

Internal Medicine, East Africa

This study aims to prospectively collect harmonized, quantitative, and dimensional psychiatric phenotypes (suicidality, anhedonia, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms) and information on discrimination, stigma, and unfair treatment in up to 27,500 individuals across diverse ancestries and clinical populations for genetic analysis within the NIMH Ancestral Population Network (APN). Five APN projects are participating in the current study (PUMAS-Paisa, PUMAS-NeuroGAP, KOMOGEN-D, LATINO, and SAX-II), spanning recruitment over 15 countries across the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Participants are being enrolled via the recruitment protocols specific to each participating project. The harmonized clinical battery includes the Columbia-Suicide Severity Scale, Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, and Florida Obsessive-Compulsive …

Associations Of Cortisol With Alzheimer's Disease Fluid And Neuroimaging Biomarkers: A Systematic Review, Jasper Holleman, Sima Toopchiani, Oliver Robinson, Ingemar Kåreholt, Miia Kivipelto, Lefkos Middleton, Alina Solomon, Chinedu Momoh, Shireen Sindi

Brain and Mind Institute

Background Chronic stress triggers the dysregulation of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis which is characterized by altered diurnal cortisol patterns and increased basal cortisol levels. This dysregulation has been found in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), but its link with AD-related biomarkers remains underexplored. This systematic review aims to synthesize the current knowledge regarding the association between cortisol and biomarkers related to AD.

Methods Keywords and phrases related to cortisol and AD-related biomarkers were used to search the MEDLINE database via PubMed and OVID interfaces up to January 2024. Studies focused on the association between cortisol levels and genetic, neuroimaging, and fluid biomarkers related …

Assessing The Association Between Musculoskeletal Injury And Mental Health In Rugby Players-A Cross-Sectional Study, Mordicai Atinga, Jasmit Shah, Sarah Karanja, Mark Lumbasi, Miriam Ndungu, Sarah Kiburi, James Ondiege, Njalalle Baraza

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries are common among athletes and can negatively affect both physical and psychological wellbeing. Beyond physical disability, injuries have been linked to poor mental health, loss of athletic identity, and increased substance use. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where awareness and management of mental health remain limited, the psychological burden of sports injuries may be underrecognized. Rugby, a physically demanding contact sport, has one of the highest rates of injury, but little is known about how such injuries influence mental health and related outcomes in African contexts. This study explored the relationship between musculoskeletal injuries and health …

Screening Ptsd In Clinical Populations Within East Africa: Results From The First Follow-Up Study Of Neurogap-Psychosis, Shaili Jha, Rocky Stroud, Ana Lucia Dice, Joseph Kyebuzibwa, Stella Gichuru, Fredrick Ochieng, Manasi Sharma, Hayden Mountcastle, Lydia Marshall, Lukoye Atwoli

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Given the high burden of trauma in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is a critical need for scalable tools to screen for trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, especially in low-resource settings.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the utility, reliability, and validity of the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) administered over the telephone to individuals previously enrolled in the Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations-Psychosis study (NeuroGAP-Psychosis) study in Uganda (N = 4,921) and Kenya (N = 3,149).

Method: Cases with psychosis and controls without psychosis (patients, caretakers, or employees) were recontacted from the NeuroGAP-Psychosis …

Seeking Traditional Health Practitioners And Use Of Complementary/Alternative Medicines In The Management Of Movement Disorders In Africa: A Multicenter Continental Study, Ali Shalash, Tamer Roushdy, Samia Sassi, Oluwadamilola Ojo, Yusuf Jamnagerwalla, Ahmed Sheikh, Yasser Mecheri, Maouly Fall, Juzar Hooker, Dilraj Sokhi

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Traditional health practitioners (THP) and complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) play a well-recognized role in Africa. However, their role in treating movement disorders (MD) remains poorly studied.

Objective This large multicenter continental study aimed to investigate the prevalence of seeking and consulting THPs and using CAMs among people with MDs in different African countries and the associated factors of their use.

Methods This study involved 12 sites within 11 African countries. We developed and distributed a structured questionnaire that documented frequency, attitudes, beliefs, and factors related to patients' engagement with THPs and use of CAMs.

Results We surveyed 1158 …

“Now That The Baby Is Out, I Can Be Vaccinated”: A Qualitative Study On Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy In Pregnant Women In Kilifi, Kenya, Angela Koech, Onesmus Wanje, Grace Mwashigadi, Geoffrey Katana, Richmond Mdindi, Peter Mwangome, Rachel Craik, Marianne Vidler, Mai-Lei Kinshella, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in pregnancy, but vaccine hesitancy limits uptake and effectiveness. This study explored COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in pregnancy in Kilifi, coastal Kenya, to elicit reasons for vaccine hesitancy and acceptance, and to compile misconceptions around vaccination in pregnancy. Twenty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant women, mothers who had given birth in the previous 2 years and health workers (community health promoters, nurses, and supervisors). Data were analyzed using thematic template analysis based on the Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants Matrix. Concern about vaccine safety for the unborn baby was a major driver of hesitancy. Many pregnant …

Normative Growth Trajectories Of Fetal Brain Regions Validated By Satisfactory Maturation Of Neurodevelopmental Domains At 2 Years Of Age, Madeleine Wyburd, Stephen Kennedy, Michelle Fernandes, Nicola Dinsdale, Linde Hesse, Robert Gunier, Leila Ismail, Eric Ohuma, Michael Gravett, Maria Carvalho

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

We previously constructed a qualitative, 3D ultrasound derived atlas of the normative spatiotemporal dynamics of fetal brain maturation. Here, using the same healthy multi-national cohort, we applied deep learning methods to 4205 fetal brain scans from 18–27 weeks’ gestation, to produce an extensive, quantitative description of the growth of 16 fetal brain structures associated with satisfactory domain-specific neurodevelopmental scores at 2 years of age. The methodology, which is publicly available, takes less than 10 seconds per scan. We define 28 region-specific, functionally relevant, normative growth trajectories, a ratio between the relative volumes of the insular (rILV) and parietal (rPLV) lobes …

Mapping Social Determinants Of Health Data In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol, Felix Anyiam, Jessica Gjonaj, Ngeresa Osango, Richard Mugo, Peace Aber, Jasmit Shah, Judith Mangeni, Rajesh Vedanthan, Joseph Hogan, Ann Mwangi

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Introduction Research has increasingly underscored the impact of factors such as socioeconomic status, education, healthcare access, housing and environmental conditions in shaping population health outcomes. These factors, collectively called social determinants of health (SDOH), provide crucial context for understanding drivers of health outcomes. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the study of SDOH is critical due to the region’s unique sociocultural and economic conditions. Understanding how SDOH interacts with health systems and capturing SDOH in data is crucial for informing modelling efforts and policies improving population health more effectively. This scoping review aims to map the types of data used to capture …

Digital Speech Biomarkers Of Cognitive Functioning In Multilingual Kenyan Adults, Adolfo M. Garcia, Levi Muyela, Alejandro Sosa Welford, Matías Caccia, Anne Njoki Gitere, Anne Nyambura, Erick Muhando, Zul Merali, Chinedu Momoh, Karen Blackmon

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Digital speech biomarkers show promise as cost-effective and scalable diagnostic tools for cognitive decline and dementia in African research and healthcare settings. However, significant gaps remain in language-specific normative data, cross-linguistic validation, and standardized protocols for multilingual populations. Targeting cognitively unimpaired multilingual Kenyan adults, here we aim to validate speech timing features from natural language, against performance on standardized culture-sensitive neuropsychological measures.

Method: This study was funded by Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative and took place in an outpatient clinic at the Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants completed culturally adapted tests tapping on word list learning, visual memory, …

Predicting Dementia Risk: Progress, Pitfalls, And Priorities, Patricia Nistor, Osvaldo Espin-Garcia, Zul Merali, Shehzad Ali

Brain and Mind Institute

As populations age, identifying individuals at high risk for dementia has become a cornerstone of prevention-oriented public health policy. Accurate and scalable risk stratification could enable early intervention and resource targeting. However, existing models face methodological limitations, including constraints in available data and follow-up duration, challenges in dementia ascertainment, heterogeneity in modelling approaches, and limited external validation. This commentary discusses these challenges and identifies methodological priorities for developing dementia risk algorithms that are robust and suitable for real-world implementation.

Experience Of Using Anti-Cd 20 Therapies In Multiple Sclerosis Patients In Kenya, Eunice Nyambane, Tejal Patel, Jacqueline Mavuti, Juzar Hooker, Dilraj Sokhi

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ocrelizumab (OCR) and rituximab (RTX) in multiple sclerosis.

Methods: This was a retrospective single-centre study. Ocrelizumab- and rituximab-treated patients were identified through the multiple sclerosis (MS) registry maintained at Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi (AKUHN), Kenya. Adult patients aged 18–65 years old who fulfilled the McDonald 2017 diagnosis criteria and received treatment with either rituximab or ocrelizumab between January 2016 and June 2025 were retrospectively evaluated. Data collected at baseline included age, gender, first symptoms, disease duration since onset, MS phenotype, treatment duration, previous …

Comprehensive Analysis Platform To Understand, Remedy, And Eliminate Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Capture Als): Study Protocol For A Canadian Multicenter, Multimodal, Longitudinal Observational Study, Natalie Saunders, Claire Magnussen, Hyungmo Kang, Mathieu Blais, Harpreet Bhinder, Gerald Pfeffer, Shelagh K. Genuis, Liziane Bouvier, Tanushka Anand, Tania M. Bubela

Office of the Provost

Background: The marked heterogeneity of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) combined with a lack of biomarkers are key contributing factors to the lack of disease-modifying treatments. The Comprehensive Analysis Platform to Understand Remedy and Eliminate ALS (CAPTURE ALS) is a Canadian platform designed to create the most comprehensive picture of people living with ALS with the objective of facilitating ALS research initiatives worldwide.
Objectives: The main aims of CAPTURE ALS include: (1) to characterize ALS and healthy controls with biosamples and data in order to provide the most comprehensive picture of individuals living with ALS to date; (2) to create a …

Spectrum Of Headache Disorders In Pakistan: A Multicenter Study, Amina Javed, Shafaq Saleem, Safia Awan, Saba Zaidi, Manzoor Lakhair, Fahad Saleem, Waleed Shahzad, Ahmed Wali

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Background and Objective:

Headache disorders represent some of the most prevalent neurological conditions worldwide. While community-based

studies provide general prevalence, data on their diagnostic spectrum in specialized clinical settings in Pakistan remain

limited. The objective of this multicenter study was to evaluate the demographic distribution and spectrum of headache

disorders among patients presenting to neurological services across Pakistan.

Methods:

This cross-sectional observational study was carried out at 39 neurology centers across Pakistan, from August 2017

to December 2019. Diagnosis was made using International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition

(ICHD-3). Demographic details, and headache subtypes were compared across gender and …

Electrophysiological Localization And Prognostic Indicators In Radial Neuropathy Presenting As Wrist Drop: A Three-Year Retrospective Observational Study, Assad Ullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Saad Ali, Sadiq Ali Shah

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Background and Objective:

Radial neuropathy is a common cause of wrist drop, and accurate lesion localization is essential for appropriate

management and prognostication. The objective of this study was to analyze electrophysiological localization patterns

of radial nerve lesions presenting as wrist drop and to assess whether earlier referral for electrophysiological evaluation

was associated with recovery outcomes.

Methods:

This retrospective observational study was conducted at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, a tertiary care setting, over

a three-year period (January 2022–December 2024). Adult patients with wrist drop and electrophysiological confirmed

radial neuropathy were included. Nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography were used to …

Visual And Brainstem Evoked Potentials: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Audit From A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan, Zuha Amin Alvi, Sundus Mehtab Shafee, Zahra Talib Shah, Dureshahwar Kanwar, Sajid Hameed

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Background and Objective:

Visual and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (VEPs and BAEPs) are standard techniques for evaluating the integrity of visual and auditory pathways respectively. The objective of our audit study was to assess demographic trends,referral indications, and electrophysiological outcomes of patients undergoing VEP and BAEP testing in a tertiary care neurophysiology laboratory in Pakistan.

Methods:

A retrospective, cross-sectional audit was conducted of 952 patient records (VEP, n=219; BAEP, n=733) over a three-year period from neurophysiology laboratory of Aga Khan University Hospital. Demographic characteristics,clinical referral indications, and electrophysiological findings were collected. Standard ACNS guidelines were used for all recordings. Statistical …

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis In A 24-Month-Old Child: A Rare Early Onset And Alarming Presentation, Arshad Mehmood, Javeria Raza Alvi, Sameen Qureshi, Ahmed Bilal, Shaila Ali, Tipu Sultan

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, progressive, and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by persistent measles virus infection. Early-onset SSPE in children under five years is uncommon but often rapidly progressive. We report a 24-month-old unvaccinated male who presented with progressive myoclonic seizures, gait difficulty, and rapid neurodevelopmental regression. Electroencephalography (EEG) showed periodic generalized discharges, and CSF measles antibody titers were elevated, fulfilling modified Dyken criteria. The child was classified as stage III SSPE. Symptomatic therapy including anti-seizure medications and supportive care, along with a planned ketogenic diet, was initiated but neurological outcome remained poor. This case emphasizes the aggressive …

Challenges Of Neurological Care In A Public Sector Hospital In Pakistan, Anila Umer

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

No abstract provided.

Lack Of Multidisciplinary Collaboration In Stroke Rehabilitation In Pakistan: A Call For Integrated Care Models, Etisam Wahid, Shahzad Ahmad, Nimrah Humayoon

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

No abstract provided.

Corrigendum: Correction Of Second Author’S Name And Affiliation In “Chorea As A Rare Manifestation Of Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report”, Editor Pjns

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

No abstract provided.

Blood- Borne Biomarkers: Exploring The Frontiers Of Minimally-Invasive Diagnosis Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Sidra Afzal, Minahil Fatima, Nimra Afzal

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

No abstract provided.

The Frontal Assessment Battery In Older Multilingual Kenyan Adults, Anne Njoki Gitere, Anne Nyambura, Karen Blackmon, Levi Muyela, Rachel Maina, Olivera Nesic Taylor,, Jasmit Shah, Dilraj Sokhi, Sylvia Mbugua, Samuel Gitau, Sheila Waa, Juzar Hooker, Zul Merali, Chinedu Momoh, Karen Blackmon

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) was developed as a short (6-item) bedside assessment of executive dysfunction in older adults with suspected neurodegeneration. This study describes psychometric features of the FAB in multilingual Kenyan adults with and without clinical diagnosis of dementia.

Method: The FAB consists of six items assessing verbal abstract reasoning, lexical fluency, motor learning, and inhibitory control. The score on each item ranges from 0-3, with higher scores indicating better performance. Bilingual English-Swahili study personnel translated, blind back-translated, and applied consensus-driven cultural adaptations. FAB was then administered to 95 participants [71 cognitively unimpaired (CU) controls; 24 people …

Burden Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders In Kenyan Children, Symon Kariuki, Patricia Kipkemoi, Martha Kombe, Mary Bitta, Jacqueline Phillips Owen, Amina Abubakar, Charles Newton

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Importance: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disability contribute to one-tenth of the global burden of mental and neurologic disorders. The burden of NDDs is not well documented in Africa.

Objective:To assess the prevalence, risk factors, and comorbidities of NDDs in young Kenyan children.

Design, setting and participants: This cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 6 to 9 years residing in the Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Kenya. In stage I of the study, children were screened for NDDs from March 16, 2015, to September 14, 2016; those …