Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objective: About 2-3 percent of the society suffer from mental retardation (MR) that leads to psychoeconomic problems. To prevent MR, it is necessary to recognize its related factors in each region.The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of MR associated factors among students of Rafsanjan exceptional schools.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive study Rafsanjan special schools were referred in 2014 and 210 students were selected statistically .Data was collected via interviewing with student's parents and using present files at schools, categorized into four parts prenatal, prinatal, postnatal and environmental factors. For data gathering, the questionnaires were used and data were analyzed using descriptive (frequency and percentage) and analytic statistics (chi_square).

Results: Educational level in 203 (96.8%) parents was illiterate to diploma and families income in  200 (95.5%) cases was low and average.In studying of prenatal factors, the most frequent cause was related to consanguineous marriage in 112 (53.3) cases and mental retardation family history in 82 (39%) cases. Also, in studying of prinatal factors, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in 43 (20.5%) cases and respiratory problems during parturition in 30 (14.3%) cases had the most frequent cause. Fever and convulsion in 35 (16.7%) cases and epilepsy in 22 (10.5%) cases were the most prevalent postnatal factors.

Conclusion: Among MR associated factors that studied in this research, environmental factors and consanguineous marriage had the most frequent cause among students of special schools and it seems that raising society's awareness level and doing genetic consultation can help to prevent this disease.

Key words: Mental retardation, Consanguineous marriage, Prenatal, Post natal

Funding: This research was funded by Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Ethical approval: The Ethics committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences approved the study.

How to cite this article: Noori M, Noori M, Bakhshi H, Vakilian AR. Survey the Frequency of Mental Retardation Associated Factors among Students of Rafsanjan Exceptional Schools in 2014 J RafsanjanUniv Med Sci 2015 13(10): 1007-1012. [Farsi]