Prevalence of disabilities in a national sample of 3-year-old Israeli children.

The prevalence of chronic conditions and illnesses causing disability in Israeli Jewish children aged 2 to 3 years, born in 1980, was studied on the basis of a national sample (n = 9,854). Seventy-six principle medical conditions causing disability were defined. The study showed a total disability rate of 8.9%. Very low birth weight and family problems were considered risk factors for developmental delay or for disability. The prevalence of the children at risk was 2.4%. The disability rate among this group was 6 to 7.5 times greater than in the total population. Data were analyzed by selected demographic characteristics. Speech and language disorders and undefined developmental delay were more prevalent among children of mothers with a low educational level. Speech and language disorders were also more prevalent among children born to mothers of Asian origin. Speech and language disorders, asthma and spastic bronchitis, hearing impairment and undefined developmental delay were more prevalent among male children. This is the first comprehensive nation-wide prevalence study of children with disabilities in Israel.