Citation

Tiwari RR, Tripathi SR. Neurol. India 2022; 70(5): 1953-1957.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/0028-3886.359195

PMID

36352593

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Children aged 5 to 14 years are employed in the informal units of footwear making and are exposed to a mixture of organic solvents present in the adhesives. Organic solvents are reported to be toxic to the neurobehavioral system.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken among the working children of informal footwear units of Agra to assess neurobehavioral functions using neurobehavioral tests.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 151 working children and 157 school children. We used the interview technique to collect the data regarding demographic, occupational, personal, and clinical characteristics using a pre-designed and pre-tested proforma. Each study participant was then subjected to a neurobehavioral test battery that included digit symbol test, finger dexterity, tweezer dexterity, vocabulary test, picture completion, and maze completion test.

RESULTS: The mean age of working children was 10.8 ± 1.5 years and that of school children was 11.0 ± 1.5 years. Except for the vocabulary test scores, all other test scores were significantly lower among working children as compared with the school children.

CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the working children in informal footwear making units are exposed to a mixture of chemicals that affect their neurobehavioral function as reflected by poor neurobehavioral test battery (NBT) scores.

Language: en

Keywords

Child; Humans; *Fingers; *Occupational Exposure; Footwear; Motor Skills; neurobehavioral functions; Neuropsychological Tests; organic solvents; Solvents/toxicity; working children