Significant regional inequalities in the prevalence of intellectual disability and trends from 1990 to 2019: A systematic analysis of GBD 2019

Abstract

Aims Policymakers and researchers have little evidence on prevalence rates of intellectual disability (ID) or their changes over time to tailor healthcare interventions. Prevalence rates and trends of ID are especially lacking in regions with lower socio-demographic development. Additionally, the assessment of inequalities in the prevalence of ID across regions with varying socio-demographic development is understudied. This study assessed variations in prevalence rates of ID from 1990 to 2019 and the related inequalities between low and high socio-demographic index (SDI) regions. Methods This study used global data from 1990 to 2019 for individuals with ID from the 2019 Global Burden of Dis..