Mental Retardation in Children and Teenagers in the Psychiatric Department of Conakry

Abstract

Introduction

Mental retardation is defined by the American Psychiatric Classification as a "significant below-average general intellectual functioning occurring before the age of 18 and with limitations of adaptive functioning in many areas of ability such as communication, autonomy, school learning, social life, individual responsibility, work, leisure, health and safety.”

In this work, we sought to determine the prevalence, describe the socio-demographic profile and identify the clinical forms of mental delay in children and teenagers.

Materials and methods:

This descriptive transverse retrospective study of a duration of ten (10 years) from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2017 involved 62 cases of patients suffering from mental retardation. Included in our study were records of patients of any sex and age admitted to the department who were diagnosed with mental delay regardless of their origin and who had a correctly completed record.

Results:

The prevalence of mental delay was 0.8%. The age group from 15 – 19 was the most represented equivalent to 56.5% and the average age of our patients was 9.5 years

Both sexes were affected with a male predominance of 66% versus 34% of females with a sex ratio of 1.9. The majority of our patients came from the city of Conakry (84% versus 16% from outside Conakry). The reasons for consultations were dominated by academic difficulties, i.e. 72.5%.

Severe form was the most represented equivalent to 66.1%

Conclusion:

An extended study in the general population would be necessary for better care.