Major neurological disorders in tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh: A community-based survey

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Neurological disorders are being recognized as a part of epidemiological transition worldwide. The much-needed database on neurological diseases in India is lacking. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of major neurological disorders in tribal population of Himachal Pradesh. METHODOLOGY: A community-based survey was conducted in two tribal districts and two tribal blocks of one district of Himachal Pradesh, India. A cluster-randomized sampling technique was used to study a population of 10,000 between 2017 and 2018. Forty clusters were identified in three districts. The study was conducted in two phases in individuals above 7 years of age. The individuals screened positive in stage 1 (using the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences protocol for assessing neurological disorders) were examined by clinical team in stage 2 and classified. RESULTS: A total of 8255 individuals reported for phase two of the study (response rate of 82.55%). The crude prevalence of neurological disorders in the tribal population was 3.04% after clinical assessment in stage 2. Migraine (1.9%) was the most common disorder followed by stroke (0.47%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of neurological disorders in tribal populations is comparable to the general population. This is an indicator of lifestyle diseases entering into the indigenous population and demands neurological health care tailored in primary health care.

Keywords

• cross-sectional survey
• hilly tribes
• neurology
• two stage