TY - JOUR
T1 - Mass Screening for Severe Problem Behavior Among Infants and Toddlers in Peru
AU - Mayo-Ortega, Liliana
AU - Oyama-Ganiko, Rosa
AU - Leblanc, Judith
AU - Schroeder, Stephen R.
AU - Brady, Nancy
AU - Butler, Merlin G.
AU - Reese, R. Matthew
AU - Richman, David M.
AU - Peacock, Georgina
AU - Foster, Jessica
AU - Marquis, Janet
PY - 2012/7
Y1 - 2012/7
N2 - Severe behavior problems among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are a major barrier to integration in the community. Recent research suggests that these behaviors often begin very early in life and might be prevented by early identification and intervention (Rojahn, Schroeder, & Hoch, 2008). The current article presents a method of mass screening for early signs of severe behavior problems among infants and toddlers in Peru.A Parental Concerns Questionnaire (PCQ), which asks 15 questions, each related to a risk factor for severe behavior problems, based on past research on IDD, was used by veteran parents to interview 341 new parents who had been solicited by TV, radio, and public service announcements across the country. Of these, 262 were recruited and enrolled in a longitudinal study in which they will be followed for 12 months to see if at-risk children actually will develop severe behavior problems. An extensive initial interdisciplinary evaluation was given to each child. Consumer satisfaction questionnaires were given to the parents as to their attitude toward the screening method.Data from the Interdisciplinary Evaluations of the sample suggest a very high hit rate (96%) by the screening instrument (PCQ). Consumer satisfaction was 98%, suggesting that the method was tolerated well by parents.The PCQ is a brief and efficient method to screen infants and toddlers at risk for severe behavior problems. The data also suggest that parents suspect these problems at a very early age. Early intervention thus seems a feasible strategy to intervene before these problems become deeply ingrained as children develop.
AB - Severe behavior problems among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are a major barrier to integration in the community. Recent research suggests that these behaviors often begin very early in life and might be prevented by early identification and intervention (Rojahn, Schroeder, & Hoch, 2008). The current article presents a method of mass screening for early signs of severe behavior problems among infants and toddlers in Peru.A Parental Concerns Questionnaire (PCQ), which asks 15 questions, each related to a risk factor for severe behavior problems, based on past research on IDD, was used by veteran parents to interview 341 new parents who had been solicited by TV, radio, and public service announcements across the country. Of these, 262 were recruited and enrolled in a longitudinal study in which they will be followed for 12 months to see if at-risk children actually will develop severe behavior problems. An extensive initial interdisciplinary evaluation was given to each child. Consumer satisfaction questionnaires were given to the parents as to their attitude toward the screening method.Data from the Interdisciplinary Evaluations of the sample suggest a very high hit rate (96%) by the screening instrument (PCQ). Consumer satisfaction was 98%, suggesting that the method was tolerated well by parents.The PCQ is a brief and efficient method to screen infants and toddlers at risk for severe behavior problems. The data also suggest that parents suspect these problems at a very early age. Early intervention thus seems a feasible strategy to intervene before these problems become deeply ingrained as children develop.
KW - behavior problems
KW - early prevention
KW - infants and toddlers
KW - intellectual disabilities
KW - self-injurious behavior
KW - severe aggression
KW - stereotyped behavior
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84863621239&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/19315864.2011.590626
DO - 10.1080/19315864.2011.590626
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84863621239
VL - 5
SP - 246
EP - 259
JO - Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities
JF - Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities
SN - 1931-5864
IS - 3-4
ER -