Health Profile of Australian Adolescents with Intellectual Disability

Tran Tuan Anh Le, Robert S. Ware, Simon Denny, Nicholas Lennox, Lyn McPherson and David Harley
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Tran Tuan Anh Le: Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mater Research Institute-UQ, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
Robert S. Ware: Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mater Research Institute-UQ, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
Simon Denny: Mater Young Adult Health Centre, Mater Health, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
Nicholas Lennox: Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mater Research Institute-UQ, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
Lyn McPherson: Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mater Research Institute-UQ, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
David Harley: Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia

Disabilities, 2021, vol. 1, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Background: Data on the health of adolescents with intellectual disability are scarce. This study describes carer-reported symptoms, chronic illnesses, level of functioning, and behaviour among Australian adolescents with intellectual disability. We compare students attending mainstream and special schools. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire data were obtained from a cohort of 592 adolescents (10–21 years) with intellectual disability attending school and living in South-East Queensland, Australia, in May 2007. We analysed data from a subset (176) who completed a health check before visiting their general practitioners. Results: Adolescents had significant health needs, and those in special education schools had worse health than those from mainstream schools. There was a discrepancy between the prevalence of significant psychopathology detected via the short form Developmental Behaviour Checklist (DBC-P24) and psychiatric conditions reported by carers. Conclusions: Given the significant health needs of this population, carefully designed and targeted programs, potentially including medical visits to these schools, are needed.

Keywords: intellectual disability; adolescents; health; behaviour; functioning; symptoms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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