The reported causes of childhood disability fell under four broad themes: medical, social, traditional/cultural beliefs and environmental causes. Medical causes include: cerebral palsy (because of antenatal and postnatal complications, difficult labours, meningitis or malaria), neonatal complications, meningitis, malaria, congenital deformities/club foot, accidents, amputations, fractures, malnutrition, polio, “high fever,” epilepsy, injections (polio virus), osteomyelitis, measles, unknown-or sometimes “difficult to diagnose” problems, and blindness. Causes of blindness included river blindness, traditional medical practices, malnutrition, lack of Vitamin A, corneal ulcers, glaucoma, and war-associated physical trauma. Social causes were mostly related to poverty, and included malnutrition, lack of vaccines, lack of mosquito nets, lack of knowledge, delay in seeking medical help, reduced access to medical services, transport issues and war.
