Profile Of Children Aged 0-3 Years With Disability In A University Hospital In The South Of Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Research and data on childhood disabilities are scarce worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where such data are not only limited but also outdated. In Brazil, according to IBGE 2019 data, there are over 17 million Brazilians with some degree of disability, representing 8.4% of the population aged over 2 years. This study aims to assess the prevalence of disabilities in children aged 0-3 years under follow-up at a university hospital in the southern region of Brazil. Methods: Descriptive, retrospective study with data collection from medical records of children treated between 2017 and 2019. Children with disabilities were divided into four major groups: genetic, prematurity-related, congenital, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Data analyzed included sex distribution, weight, height, head circumference, APGAR score, average length of hospital stay, type of delivery, maternal age, presence of comorbidities, and parental care in the patients treated. Results: During the study period, 3,091 children were treated, of whom 429 (13.9%) presented some degree of disability, with 8.4% due to genetic conditions, 34.3% premature, 20.9% congenital disorders, and 12% neurodevelopmental disorders. Significant differences were observed among the studied groups, particularly regarding birth weight. The rate of cesarean deliveries was high in all groups. Conclusions: The sample of children with disabilities in our study was higher than the data reported in the last Brazilian census. Further research is needed in children aged 0-3 years in Brazil.