The health of Scotland’s 26,349 people with intellectual disabilities

Hughes-McCormack, L., Rydzewska, E. , Henderson, A. and Cooper, S.-A. (2016) The health of Scotland’s 26,349 people with intellectual disabilities. 2016 IASSIDD World Congress, Melbourne, Australia, 14-19 Aug 2016. p. 685. (doi: 10.1111/jir.12305)

Abstract

Aim: This study analyses and compares reported general health status; reported mental health conditions; and other reported disabilities for people with and without intellectual disabilities (ID). Method:Data were drawn from Scotland’s 2011 Census. Descriptive statistics were generated about people with and without ID. Age and gender differences in general health, mental health and other disabilities were analysed. Results: We identified 26,349 (0.5%) people with ID from the total Scottish population(n=5,295,403). 15,149 (57.5%) were males and 11,200 females (42.5%). 5,234 were children (0-15 years), and 21,115 (16 + years) adults. Children and adults with ID reported poorer health (47.9% and 40.3%), compared to children and adults in the general population ( 2.1%and 13.8%). More mental health problems and other disabilities were reported by people with ID across all ages. Conclusions: People with ID rated their health less favourably than the general population at all ages. This result corresponds with previous research,suggesting self-rated health is an effective measure of health inequalities in the population of people with ID.

• Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item
• Additional Information: Abstract of oral presentation published in Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. Special Issue: Global Partnerships: Enhancing Research, Policy and Practice 60(7-8):687
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Rydzewska, Dr Ewelina and Hughes, Mrs Laura and Henderson, Mrs Angela and Cooper, Professor Sally-Ann
• Authors: Hughes-McCormack, L., Rydzewska, E., Henderson, A., and Cooper, S.-A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0964-2633
• ISSN (Online): 1365-2788

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