Anna-Theresia Ekman researches prevalence, associated risk factors and early detection developmental delay and disabilities

Anna-Theresia is a medical doctor that has worked with people with neurodevelopmental disabilities in Sweden for about ten years, and as a junior doctor at the psychiatric care working with both with outpatients and at the ER. She is currently completing her general medical training at Sankt Göran hospital combined with research at Karolinska Institutet.

More children survive their 5th birthday but the number of children with disability is still high and there is a lack of studies on developmental delay and disabilities from sub-Sahara Africa. Anna-Theresia’s research aims to improve the understanding of the situation of children with developmental disabilities in low-income countries. The first part of the project involves estimating the prevalence of disabilities in children under five years of age, especially in sub-Saharan countries where children are most at risk of disability and developmental delay.

The second part deals with how early screening similar to Swedish BVC checks (voluntary preventive child health program) can be integrated into preventive child health care, to enable support for children and families. Through increased knowledge, inclusive policies and targeted early interventions for children and families can be designed. The projects are carried out in collaboration with partners in Sierra Leone and Uganda.

"The halftime is an important opportunity to prepare for the PhD defence, practice presentation skills and discuss the PhD project. I am thankful to the halftime committee members, who provided valuable input regarding the feasibility of the studies and on how to increase the results usability for health and policy planning efforts" says Anna-Theresia.

The halftime seminar took place October 9 at Karolinska Institutet and online.

Title: 
Prevalence, associated risk factors, and early detection of developmental delay and disabilities among young children living in Sub-Saharan Africa

Main supervisor:
Tobias Alfvén, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet

Co-supervisors:
Helena Frielingsdorf, Department of Global Public Health (affiliated), Karolinska Institutet
Angelina Kakooza, Makerere University
Nicola Orsini, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet

Half-time committee:
Mohammed F Jalloh, MD PhD, Department of Global Public Health (affiliated), Karolinska Institutet
Michael Wells, Associate Professor, Department of Women and Children’s health, Karolinska Institutet 
Richar Idro, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor, Makerere University