Disability in children from different ethnic populations

We report on the prevalence of severe neurodisability in children in the Southern Derbyshire Health Authority from different ethnic groups. Information was obtained from the health records of children at the Child Development Centre (CDC), and analysed according to ethnic group. There were 53 in the Pakistani group, 20 in the Indian group and 764 in a mixed group, of which 95% were of European origin. It was estimated that all children with severe disability in the area of the Health Authority had notes at the CDC, except for 10% of the mixed group living on the periphery. The numbers of children with different disabling conditions were recorded, together with a measure of the level of individual disability; the ‘Disability Scores’. We also noted if the condition was genetic or chromosomal in origin. Pakistani children showed a higher prevalence than the other groups of severe learning disorder, severe and profound hearing loss and severe visual problems. They also had a slightly increased prevalence of autism and cerebral palsy. Conversely, they showed a lower prevalence of language disorder. Disability scores for Pakistani children attending the CDC were higher than for other groups. Genetic disease causing disability was 10 times more common in the Pakistani children than other ethnic groups. Disability is more common in Pakistani children probably as a result of the cultural practice of consanguineous marriages. This community needs special help for disabled children, and their families, for general support and appropriate genetic counselling.