Health indicators and intellectual disability.
OBJECTIVE
Health disparities are evident between people with intellectual disabilities and the general population. Despite the potential of indicators for measuring disparities and planning interventions to address inequalities- currently a priority health policy target- few studies have mapped the physical or mental health of people with intellectual disabilities onto the growing territory of health disparities, health information systems and health indicators. This review summarizes recent publications about the role of indicators in gathering optimal health information on behalf of this segment of the population.


RESULTS
Studies related to measures of the health of people with intellectual disabilities are presented in three sections: information captured in general population surveys; measures of health status of people with intellectual disabilities at country and regional levels; and their use of healthcare systems. The work of the Pomona group of European partners who have devised and applied a set of health indicators specifically for people with intellectual disabilities is presented.


CONCLUSIONS
Health indicators yield data to identify health conditions, plan interventions and compare populations or segments of the population. It is suggested that better definitions, measures and surveillance will yield comparable information to inform public health policy and clinical practice.
Walsh
Patricia Noonan
PN
Centre for Disability Studies, School of Psychology, UCD, Dublin, Ireland. patricia.walsh@ucd.ie
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States