title: Perspectives of intellectual disability in the People's Republic of China: epidemiology, policy, services for children and adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review aims to provide an overview of the current status and recent developments in epidemiology, public policy and services for children and adults with intellectual disability in China.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most recent national survey on disability conducted in 2006 estimated that the prevalence of intellectual disability was 0.75% in China. People with intellectual disability accounted for 11.9% of all the people with disabilities and they have an uneven geographical distribution. The prevalence in urban areas was 0.4%, whereas that in rural areas was 1.02%. The Constitution of the People's Republic of China stated that people with disabilities have the right to receive assistance from the state and society. Based on this, laws have been formulated and revised to protect people with disabilities in areas of education, employment and rehabilitation. The variety, capacity and quality of services for people with intellectual disability are steadily increasing or improving, but there are still gaps and deficiencies such as mental health care and professional services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supported by the Central Government of the People's Republic of China, there has been remarkable progress in the formulation of policies and provision of services for people with intellectual disability in recent years. However, there continue to be a lot of unmet needs among this population, particularly those living in rural areas. Therefore, further commitment, coordination and resource allocation are required to improve the lives of people with intellectual disability in China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kwai Chung Hospital, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. hwmkwok@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Henry W M
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005190:Family; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D015995:Prevalence; D011640:Public Policy