Abstract
Life expectancy for persons with intellectual disability has increased over the past 100 years and today closer to the life expectancy of the general population (except for Down syndrome). In this study we looked at trends in the number of Arab persons with intellectual disability in residential care centers in Israel. Annual questionnaires to the medical clinics in all residential care centers for the 1998-2006 period were analysed and it was found that the Arab population had increased from 749 to 921 persons in 13 residential care centers (13.5% of the total residential care population). Of the 921 person in 2006 there were 58 children aged 0-9 years and 260 aged 10-19 years with the majority having severe or profound intellectual disability. The increase in the number over time can been seen as a longer life expectancy in this population also and the lower than expected numbers in residential care can be seen as a result of children staying at home with their families for a longer time than the Jewish population.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Bedouin Health |
| Subtitle of host publication | Perspectives from Israel |
| Publisher | Nova Science Publishers, Inc. |
| Pages | 73-77 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781629482743 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781629482712 |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2013 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Health Professions
- General Medicine