Handicapped individuals in Kuwait

A large-scale community screening study is proposed for Kuwait, using a schedule based on the 1980 WHO Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps. The needs for accurate prevalence data are reviewed from the standpoints of establishing aetiological patterns, pinpointing opportunities for prevention and furnishing a sound basis for planning in a country with a rapidly growing population and still-developing network of care services. A permanent mechanism for monitoring prevalence trends and service needs is proposed in the form of a Multidisciplinary Handicap Register. Details of these proposals and their feasibility are discussed in the light of previous work.