© 1987 Oxford University Press
research-article |
The Influence of Habitat on the Prevalence of Mental Handicap
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine. Faculty of Medicine. University of Santiago Spain
Reprint requests to Prol Dr J J Gestal Otero. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Social. Facultad de Medicina, c/S Francisco s/n. Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The influence of habitat on the frequency and characteristics of mental handicap in Galicia (NW Spain) has been studied by means of a survey of registered mentally handicapped people. Higher prevalence is observed in rural, inland, mountainous, isolated and socioeconomically and culturally depressed areas with low population density, high migration rates and a high degree of endogamy. In these areas the prevalence of severe deficiency among the mentally handicapped is also higher due to CNS infections, cranial traumatisms and goitre and to the infrequent use of birth control methods. The expectation of rehabilitation in these areas is nil, though in some cases occupational adaptation is possible.
Received 1 January 1986