MSc (Med) Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / Background: Elimination disorders are childhood behavioural disorders. In South Africa these
disorders fall within a neglected field of study when compared to physical illnesses. This
report serves as formative research in order to address this neglect.
Aims: To identify and summarise the clinical presentations, age and gender distribution,
associated comorbid disorders and psychosocial factors in our mainly black patients from
Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Methodology: One hundred and sixteen children aged 4 – 14 years with these conditions were
enrolled into a descriptive prevalence or survey study over a period of three years. An
interview questionnaire was explained and responses recorded, from the caregivers and
subjects.
Result: There were 72 males and 44 females and their mean age at presentation was 9 years.
More males suffered from encopresis only and both elimination disorders than females. There
was only one female with encopresis alone. More females had enuresis than males. A greater
percentage of subjects had primary enuresis as compared to encopresis, which was
predominantly secondary in nature. Mental retardation, learning disability and ADHD were
common comorbid conditions.
Conclusion: The prevalence of elimination disorders in children attending an outpatient
paediatric facility does justify the need for a specialised elimination disorder clinic. This clinic
needs to be accommodated within an ambulatory paediatric unit such as the paediatric
outpatients department of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/8732 |
| Date | 17 September 2010 |
| Creators | Patel, Firuzan Harishkumar |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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