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Provision of services for mentally handicapped children in the Witwatersrand area
J D Cartwright1, A van Rijlaarsdam, J Wagner
1Department of Paediatrics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Insights
This study assessed services for children with intellectual disability in Witwatersrand. Facilities were insufficient, particularly for Black children, highlighting an urgent need for improved care and educational placement.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood intellectual disability (ID) is characterized by subaverage intellectual functioning and deficits in adaptive behavior from birth to 18 years.
- Effective diagnosis, placement, and management are crucial for children with ID.
- Existing facilities in the Witwatersrand area were evaluated for adequacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the diagnosis, placement, and management of children with intellectual disability in the Witwatersrand area.
- To survey the availability and adequacy of facilities for children with ID.
- To identify disparities in service provision across different racial groups.
Main Methods:
- The study involved a survey of facilities and an analysis of service adequacy for children with intellectual disability.
- Data collection focused on the Witwatersrand area.
- Calculations were performed to determine the percentage of children for whom facilities were adequate.
Main Results:
- Facilities were adequate for 69.7% of white, 26% of Indian, 9.3% of coloured, and only 7.6% of black children with ID.
- Significant disparities in service availability were observed across racial demographics.
- Children with profound intellectual disability require urgent attention and specialized care.
Conclusions:
- There is an urgent need to expand and improve care facilities for children with intellectual disability, especially for underserved populations.
- Special classes within regular schools are recommended as the most appropriate educational setting for mildly to moderately intellectually disabled children.
- Addressing the inequities in service provision is critical for ensuring adequate support for all children with intellectual disability.
Abstract:
Childhood mental retardation is defined as significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning existing together with difficulty in adaptive behaviour, manifesting during the period from birth to 18 years. We addressed the issues of diagnosis, placement and management of the mentally handicapped child in the Witwatersrand area and surveyed facilities available for them. According to our calculations, facilities were adequate for 69.7% white, 26% Indian, 9.3% coloured and only 7.6% black children. Urgent attention must be given to providing more care for these children, especially those with profound mental retardation. A special class in a regular school is the most appropriate environment for the mildly to moderately retarded group.