Table 3 Demographic characteristics (N = 540)

Age of child in years

6.72 (2.76)

6.59 (2.66)

6.85 (2.86)

Age in categories

 2–8 years

378 (70.0%)

195 (72.2%)

183(67.8%)

 9–12 years

162 (30.0%)

75 (27.8%)

87 (32.2%)

Sex of child

 Male

320 (59.3%)

159 (58.9%)

161 (59.6%)

 Female

220 (40.7%)

111 (41.1%)

109 (40.4%)

Caregivers’ relationship with child

 Mother

520 (96.3%)

259 (95.9%)

261 (96.7%)

 Sister

4 (0.7%)

2 (0.7%)

2 (0.7%)

 Paternal aunt

6 (1.1%)

4 (1.5%)

2 (0.7%)

 Maternal aunt

3 (0.6%)

1 (0.4%)

2 (0.7%)

Grandmother

7 (1.3%)

4 (1.5%)

3 (1.1%)

Type of developmental difficulties

 Cognitive difficulties

239 (44.3%)

116 (43.0%)

123 (45.6%)

 Motor difficulties

32 (5.9%)

15 (5.6%)

17 (6.3%)

 Cognitive difficulties with motor difficulties

216 (40.0%)

108 (40.0%)

108 (40.0%)

 Communication difficulties

14 (2.6%)

8 (3.0%)

6 (2.2%)

 Down syndrome

39 (7.2%)

23 (8.5%)

16 (5.9%)

Mother’s education

 No schooling

177 (32.8%)

84 (31.1%)

93 (34.4%)

 Primary (6 years)

126 (23.3%)

56 (20.7%)

70 (25.9%)

 Middle (8 years)

70 (13.0%)

40 (14.8%)

30 (11.1%)

 Matric (10 years)

107 (19.8%)

52 (19.3%)

55 (20.4%)

 Intermediate (12 years)

28 (5.2%)

16 (5.9%)

12 (4.4%)

 College and university (16 years)

32 (5.9%)

22 (8.1%)

10 (3.7%)

Father’s education

 No schooling

76 (14.1%)

42 (15.6%)

34 (12.6%)

 Primary (6 years)

71 (13.1%)

28 (10.4%)

43 (15.9%)

 Middle (8 years)

115 (21.3%)

60 (22.2%)

55 (20.4%)

 Matric (10 years)

198 (36.7%)

99 (36.7%)

99 (36.7%)

 Intermediate (12 years)

43 (8.0%)

25 (9.3%)

18 (6.7%)

 College and university (16 years)

27 (5%)

13 (4.8)

14 (5.1)

 Not applicable

10 (1.9%)

3 (1.1%)

7 (2.6%)

Total monthly income

540

270

270

Mean (SD)^a

19,236.65 (17,617.78)

19,543.58 (19,194.36)

18,929.71 (15,915.82)