Prevalence of intellectual disability in Western Australia

Abstract

Record linkage of multiple sources was used to ascertain children with intellectual disability born in Western Australia between 1983 and 1992. The prevalence was 14.3 per 1000, 10.6 per 1000 for children with mild or moderate and 1.4 per 1000 for those with a severe level of intellectual disability. Prevalence was greater in males (prevalence ratio 1.6) and in children of Aboriginal mothers (prevalence ratio 2.3). Although prevalence of intellectual disability has been found to vary according to study location, method of ascertainment and criteria used, these estimates are similar to estimates from several recent studies.