DOI: 10.36347/sasjm

Pages: 83-86

Rasthria Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) Project -an initiative by Ministry of Health and Family welfare initiated in February 2013 aimed at screening of children in the age group 0-18 years for 4 Ds (birth defects, developmental delay / disability, deficiency and diseases) and management, through District Early Intervention Centres (DEICs). To find out the magnitude of birth defects, developmental delay / disability, deficiency and diseases among the age group 0 to 18 years in Pallippad Grama Panchayath, Alappuzha, Kerala using the services of trained ASHA workers. A cross sectional survey using census method was conducted in the Panchayath applying RBSK screening tool, by trained ASHA workers who conducted house to house visits and screened all the children in the age group of 0 to 18 years. The 4Ds were confirmed among screen positive children at medical camps by experts using standardized tools and clinical impression. Out of the total 3481 children screened, ASHA workers identified 640 children, among whom 123 were identified as having only clinically insignificant problems by scrutiny of the forms by the Principal Investigator and 81 did not attend the medical camp. Among 436 children who attended the medical camp, 37 (8.5 %) had birth defects,,40(9.2%) developmental delay,215 (49.3%) disability,19 (4.5%) deficiency and 274 (62.8%) had diseases alone or in combination. It was found feasible to train ASHA workers to screen 4Ds using RBSK screening tool under supervision and confirm the same using medical camp approach with the help of experts.