Prevalence of disabilities in a national sample of 7-year-old Israeli children

The prevalence of chronic conditions and illnesses causing disability in Israeli Jewish children aged 7 years born in 1975 was studied on the basis of a national sample (n=7,739). Eighty medical conditions causing disability were defined. The study showed a total disability rate of 17.5%, which is higher than that reported on a similar national sample of 3 year olds (prevalence of 6.9%). The percentage of disabilities among very low birthweight children and those with family problems was four times greater than in the total population. Mild retardation and undefined learning problems were more prevalent among children of mothers with low educational level and among children whose birth order was fourth or more. Asthma and spastic bronchitis were more prevalent among children whose mothers were of European/American origin (P<0.05). Behavior and mental disorders, learning problems, speech and language disorders were more prevalent among male children. Two-thirds of the children with a diagnosed problem also had at least one functional disability. There were relatively more children from lower social classes in the special education schools than in the national sample. Increased prevalence of disabilities among children of very low birthweight, low maternal educational level, high birth order, and those from families whose origin is Asian/African and from families with intrafamilial problems defines the children at risk for disabilities and placement in special education schools.