Abstract

ISRAEL LOPEZ, José; VALDESPINO PINEDA, Luis M.  and  LUGONES BOTELL, Miguel. Mental retardation and quality of life. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2005, vol.21, n.5-6. ISSN 0864-2125.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among all the children aged 0-14 that were diagnosed some degree of mental retardation in Playa municipality, in 2001. We found a total of 244 mentally retarded in that age group, accounting for 21.2 %. The perinatal history was presented as a cause of mental retardation in 29.5 %. Infections, malnutrition and/or anemia were among the diseases most frequently associated with pregnancy. The events of the neonatal period related to mental retardation, such as preterm delivery, instrumented delivery and cesarean section, showed indicators above the accepted by the maternal and children's program. Low birth weight, low apgar score and hypoxia signs behaved in the same way. In 34.4 % of the cases there was history of severe diseases and admissions due to different causes, among which infections stood out.

Keywords : Mental retardation; disability; intellectual déficit; adaptative activity; medicosocial problem.

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