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[Prevalence rate of the severely mentally and physically disabled children in Gunma Prefecture]
Insights
A study in Gunma Prefecture found a prevalence of 0.55/1000 severely disabled children aged 6-15. Most disabled children were bedridden and intellectually disabled, with higher rates of home care than institutionalization.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Disability Studies
- Public Health
Context:
- Focuses on severely mentally and physically disabled children aged 6 to 15 years in Gunma Prefecture.
- Examines children who are bedridden or can sit but cannot stand or walk, even with support.
- Utilizes data from the regional Board of Education, Child Consultation Center, and hospitals for the disabled.
Purpose:
- To determine the distribution and prevalence of severely disabled children in Gunma Prefecture.
- To analyze demographic characteristics, including institutionalization versus home care, gender, and age distribution.
- To understand the health and educational needs of this vulnerable population.
Summary:
- A total of 129 severely disabled children were identified, with a prevalence rate of 0.55 per 1000 school-aged children.
- The majority (58.9%) were cared for at home, while 41.1% were institutionalized.
- Over 72% were bedridden and had an IQ of 20 or less, indicating profound intellectual and physical impairment.
Impact:
- Provides crucial data for public health planning and resource allocation for disabled children in Japan.
- Highlights the need for comprehensive support systems for both institutionalized and home-cared disabled children.
- Informs educational and healthcare policies to better serve children with severe disabilities and their families.
Abstract:
Children were studied on distribution of the severely mentally and physically disabled aged 6 to 15 years in Gunma Prefecture as of September 1, 1991. They were all bedridden or able to sit, but could not stand or walk, even with support. Today, all the Japanese should attend elementary school as well as junior high school. Even though they are severely disabled, they are all registered by the regional Board of Education, where we could get exact data on the disabled children throughout Gunma Prefecture. We collaborated with the regional Board of Education, the Child Consultation Center of Gunma Prefecture and 6 hospitals for the disabled. A total of 129 cases were found. The population of schoolboys and schoolgirls aged 6 to 15 years of age was 236,000, most of whose guardians were residents of this prefecture, and the prevalence rate was 0.55/1000. Among 129 cases, 53 cases (41.1%) were institutionalized and 76 cases (58.9%) were cared for at home. Fifty-nine cases (45.7%) were males and 70 cases (54.3%) were females. Thirty-four cases were aged 6 to 7 years (26.4%) and older cases declined probably due to premature deaths. Ninety-four of the 129 cases (72.9%) were bedridden and mentally retarded with IQs 20 or less.