Reducing Childhood Disability in the 80s

Abstract

Childhood disability is now known to be a major public health problem throughout the world. It is estimated that in 1975 about 10 percent of the world's 1.4 billion children suffered from one or more disabilities. The authors discuss the patterns and causes of childhood disability from an international perspective and outline a number of factors that will continue to influence the incidence of disability in the 1980s. They conclude by suggesting several strategies for change, both national and international in nature, to help prevent disability and to care for disabled children.