Disease and Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Volume II Need strategies that aim to improve the quality of survival in the 92-95% of children now living beyond 5 years Available data shows that severe mental retardation, visual impairment and hearing impairment occur at significantly higher rates in SSA than in developed countries A substantial portion of disability in SSA is preventable Chapter 12: Developmental Disabilities Chapter 24: Mental Health, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Most Common Mental Disorders depression schizophrenia anxiety alcohol abuse disorders from conflict AIDS-related disorders gender-based violence disorders Increasing Concerns Alcohol abuse has increased sharply in SSA Consumption of alcohol by children is on the rise Rates of PTSD, anxiety and depression range from 20-60% in areas affected by conflict Most common forms include cerebral palsy, mental retardation, epilepsy, peripheral neuropathy, stroke and nervous system complications from AIDS, trauma, and alcohol abuse Increasingly prevalent in SSA due to malnutrition, adverse peri-natal conditions, malaria, HIV/AIDS, demographic transitions, increased vehicular traffic, and conflict Highly disabling, responsible for a least 25% of the global burden of disease and an even greater proportion of disability The leading causes of SSA’s neurological disorders are preventable and include infections during pregnancy, neonatal infections, and sequelae to the disorders that cause high under-five mortality Chapter 25: Neurological Disorders