Disabilities and trends over time in a French county, 1980-91.
OBJECTIVE
To describe trends over time and types of disability for children born in a French county from 1980 to 1991.


METHODS
Data were collected from medical records of a morbidity register; disabled children with at least one severe deficiency have been included. Prevalence rates are given per 1000 resident children, over four three-year periods.


RESULTS
Overall, 7.73 per 1000 children (that is, 1360 children), had a severe childhood disability, and the prevalence rate had increased significantly since 1980. This increase was mainly owing to an increase in cerebral palsy and psychiatric disorder prevalence rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Future research aimed to explain these trends over time can be based on such data. The present knowledge is useful for planning purposes.
Cans
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Registre des Handicaps de l'Enfant et Observatoire Périnatal de l'Isére, 23, Av Albert 1er de Belgique, 38000 Grenoble, France. christine.cans@imag.fr
Guillem
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Fauconnier
J
J
Rambaud
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P
Jouk
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PS
D001724:Birth Weight; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology