title: Perspectives on intellectual disability in Taiwan: epidemiology, policy and services for children and adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present review examines the most recent published references to epidemiology, healthcare needs and utilization and social and health policy relating to people with intellectual disability in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic searches of Medline, PubMed and PsychInfo literature using the key terms of epidemiology, etiology, welfare policy, health policy, health services, intellectual disability, learning disability and mental retardation as well as a thorough manual search for relevant literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The administrative prevalence of intellectual disability was 0.318-0.396%, and men accounted for a higher percentage of cases than women in Taiwan. Institutionalized care still dominates disability services provided in this society, and the number of institutions and staff working therein has increased steadily in recent years. Many studies also identify the high risk for ill health accompanied by physical/mental diseases in people with intellectual disability, with this group also requiring more healthcare services than the general population in Taiwan. There are still many barriers to accessibility and availability of health and social services confronting people with intellectual disability and their caregivers under the National Health Insurance scheme in Taiwan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a result of this review process, this paper suggests that future study should focus on an evaluation of the efficacy of current health and social policies related to people with intellectual disability, and that supportive health environments be initiated for this group of people living in institutions or in the community.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lan-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jin-Ding
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D015995:Prevalence; D011640:Public Policy; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology