Prevalence of intellectual disability in India: A meta-analysis
Paul Swamidhas Sudhakar Russell, Sahana Nagaraj, Ashvini Vengadavaradan, Sushila Russell, Priya Mammen, Satya Raj Shankar, Shonima Aynipully Viswanathan, Richa Earnest, Swetha Madhuri Chikkala, Grace Rebekah
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Burden due to intellectual disability (ID) is only third to the depressive disorders and anxiety disorders in India. This national burden significantly contributes to the global burden of ID and hence one has to think globally and act locally to reduce this burden. At its best the collective prevalence of ID is in the form of narrative reviews. There is an urgent need to document the summary prevalence of ID to enhance further policymaking, national programs and resource allocation. AIM: To establish the summary prevalence of ID during the past 60 years in India. METHODS: ≥ 50% was considered substantial and we determined the heterogeneity with meta-regression. The analyses were performed using STATA (version 16). RESULTS: = 98%] and the adjusted summary prevalence was 1.4%. Meta-regression demonstrated that age of the participants was statistically significantly related to the prevalence; other factors did not influence the prevalence or heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: The summary prevalence of ID in India was established to be 2% taking into consideration the individual prevalence studies over the last six decades. This knowledge should improve the existing disability and mental health policies, national programs and service delivery to reduce the national and global burden associated with ID.