Profile of Social, Environmental and Biological Correlates in Intellectual Disability in A Resource-Poor Setting in India

Background: Intellectual disability (ID) is a major public health issue in India. Social, environmental and biological factors all contribute to the nation′s high rate of ID. Objective: We aimed to investigate the distribution, differences and the association of social, environmental and biological factors with different types of ID in a mixed (tribal and non-tribal) population in India. Materials and Methods: Secondary data was collected during a community-based rehabilitation project and analyzed with descriptive statistics: Frequency, percentage and χ2. Results: Poverty, low levels of parental education and a family history of epilepsy and ID were all associated in both tribal and non-tribal populations (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The outcome of this study may be helpful in planning public health initiatives that aim to reduce the burden of ID in mixed populations.