An epidemiological study of clinic attendees at the first specialised clinic for individuals with intellectual disability in Sri Lanka

Background

Intellectual disability (ID) is diagnosed when both intellectual and adaptive functioning deficits are shown in conceptual, social and practical domains during the developmental period. A higher prevalence of ID in areas of lower socioeconomic status and developing countries is noted. No published studies of ID were found for Sri Lanka.

Aims

To describe the epidemiology and pattern of health seeking behaviour of individuals with ID attending a specialised clinic.

Methods

Data were extracted from the records of all individuals registered at the specialised clinic for mentally retarded individuals at Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, from 1984 to 2013.

Results

One thousand three hundred and thirty five patient records were perused. The mean age at first presentation was 11.7 years. The majority (60.7%) were males. Mild, moderate and severe ID was diagnosed in 78.9%, 15.6% and 5.5% respectively. The main presenting problem was poor scholastic abilities (54.8%). Epilepsy was the main associated medical condition. Activities of daily living (ADLs) were impaired in 31.8% of subjects. A majority-received no behavioural interventions.

Conclusion

There was a 33-fold increase in help seeking behaviour, over the 29 year study period. The findings of this study highlight the epidemiology of ID in Sri Lanka, and the need for more clinics and a national policy for ID.