Related Experiment Videos
Health disparities and mental retardation
1School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, 600 Centerview Drive, 1300 ASB/A110, Hershey, PA 17033-0855, USA. kmf103@psu.edu
Purpose:
To identify health care needs and the availability and accessibility of health care services for people with mental retardation (MR).
Methods:
Review of the literature on health disparities and mental retardation was performed using MEDLINE, PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsycInfo from 1992 to 2002.
Findings:
Deficiencies in care identified in the literature included general health screening and care for physical symptoms, mental health, women's care, dental services, health maintenance, and prevention.
Conclusions:
Disparities in health care place people with MR at high risk for morbidity and premature mortality.