Loss Georg, Cummins Hannah, Gutapaka Nicolaus, Nyandele Jane, Jebiwott Sylvia, Sumari Deborah, Athuman Thabit, Juma Omary, Martin-Herz Susanne P, Olotu Ally, Hsiang Michelle S, Fink Günther
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Switzerland.
University of Basel, Switzerland.
PLoS One. 2024 Dec 30;19(12):e0315058. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315058. eCollection 2024.
Measuring neurocognitive functioning in children requires validated, age-appropriate instruments that are adapted to the local cultural and linguistic context. We sought to evaluate the usability and psychometric properties of five tools that assess general intelligence, executive functioning, and sustained attention among Tanzanian children.
We adapted five age-appropriate neurocognitive assessment batteries from previously published assessment materials to the Tanzanian context. We enrolled children 6 months to 12 years of age residing in the rural ward of Yombo, Pwani Region. Feasibility and acceptability of all instruments was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively, including measurement of refusal rates, ceiling or floor effects, and time requirements. We assessed internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and convergent validity using standard correlation analysis. Score gradients across age were explored using polynomial regression analysis.
All five instruments required minimal adaptations to the Tanzanian context. Two-hundred sixty one children aged 6 months to 12 years completed the assessment. Refusal rates were consistently low (5.9% at the highest) and no ceiling or floor effects of measurements were observed. Feedback from assessors and caregivers indicated adequate test durations and generally high acceptability of instruments. All instruments showed good internal consistency with Cronbach alphas at least 0.84 for all tests. We found satisfactory convergent validity; all test scores strongly correlated with age.
The five instruments identified to assess general intelligence, executive functioning, and sustained attention constructs in Tanzanian children seem to work well in this setting.
测量儿童的神经认知功能需要经过验证的、适合其年龄的工具，这些工具要适应当地的文化和语言环境。我们试图评估五种工具在坦桑尼亚儿童中的可用性和心理测量特性，这些工具用于评估一般智力、执行功能和持续注意力。
我们将五种适合年龄的神经认知评估量表从先前发表的评估材料改编为适合坦桑尼亚的版本。我们招募了居住在滨海省约ombo农村地区的6个月至12岁的儿童。对所有工具的可行性和可接受性进行了定性和定量评估，包括测量拒绝率、天花板或地板效应以及时间要求。我们使用克朗巴赫α系数评估内部一致性，并使用标准相关分析评估收敛效度。使用多项式回归分析探索年龄之间的分数梯度。
所有五种工具只需对坦桑尼亚环境进行最小程度的调整。261名6个月至12岁的儿童完成了评估。拒绝率一直很低（最高为5.9%），未观察到测量的天花板或地板效应。评估人员和照顾者的反馈表明测试时间足够，工具的可接受性普遍较高。所有工具都显示出良好的内部一致性，所有测试的克朗巴赫α系数至少为0.84。我们发现收敛效度令人满意；所有测试分数与年龄密切相关。
所确定的用于评估坦桑尼亚儿童一般智力、执行功能和持续注意力结构的五种工具在这种环境下似乎效果良好。
