title: Genetic services for patients with severe mental retardation. The South African situation.
abstract: In South Africa mental retardation is still ill-defined as regards the aetiology and general epidemiology. A systematic diagnostic/genetics programme implemented at various institutions for the mentally retarded within the framework of a comprehensive genetic service is described. The progress made is reported and the contribution of genetic services to the prevention and the management of mental retardation highlighted.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D013019:South Africa