Handicap among children in Saudi Arabia: Prevalence, distribution, type, determinants and related factors

Abstract

We determined the prevalence, distribution and determinants of handicap among children in Saudi Arabia. A field survey was carried out from 1417 to 1420 AH (1997-2000 AD) of 60 630 children under 16 years selected from all regions of the country. Information was collected by questionnaire for all children and those with a handicap, or suspected of having a handicap, were referred for confirmatory diagnosis. Of the total sample, 3838 (6.33%) were recorded as handicapped. The region with the highest proportion of handicapped children was Jazan (9.90%); Riyadh had the lowest (4.36%). Motor disability was the commonest kind of handicap (3.0% of the total sample), followed by learning disability (1.8%). The highest proportion of disability was found among children with handicapped parents, those whose mothers were older at the time of their birth and those whose mothers had not had medical care and necessary vaccination during pregnancy.