STATUS OF NEUROLOGICAL DISABILITY IN BALOCHISTAN – A CROSS-SECTIONAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY AT BMC HOSPITAL QUETTA

Abstract

Background: Neurological disorders are among the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide and impose a disproportionate burden on low- and middle-income regions. In Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, limited epidemiological data and constrained health-system capacity hinder effective planning for prevention, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Understanding local patterns of neurological disability is essential to inform evidence-based health policies, optimize service delivery, and address unmet rehabilitation needs in underserved populations.

Objective: To evaluate the disability status, demographic trends, and distribution of neurological disabilities among patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Quetta, Balochistan, in order to inform healthcare planning and policy development.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, from January 2024 to August 2025. A total of 238 residents of Quetta District with confirmed neurological disabilities were enrolled using purposive consecutive sampling. Diagnoses were established and verified by senior consultants using the International Classification of Diseases, Eleventh Revision (ICD-11), with functional assessment guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a structured proforma. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with descriptive statistics expressed as frequencies and percentages, and associations assessed using chi-square tests at a 95% confidence level.

Results: Of the 238 participants, 158 (66.4%) were male and 80 (33.6%) were female, while 217 (91.2%) were unmarried. The most represented age groups were 1–10 years (33.2%) and 11–20 years (25.2%). Cerebral palsy was the most frequent diagnosis (36.1%), followed by cognitive disabilities (23.1%) and stroke (20.2%). Stroke and autoimmune neurological conditions were relatively more common among adults aged 21–30 years. No statistically significant association was observed between diagnosis and gender (p = 0.536) or age group (p = 0.345).

Conclusion: Neurological disabilities represent a substantial and predominantly early-onset health burden in Quetta. The findings highlight critical gaps in preventive care, early diagnosis, and long-term rehabilitation services, underscoring the need for strengthened surveillance systems and integrated, community-oriented neurological care in Balochistan.