Prevalence of intellectual disability in India: A meta-analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Burden due to intellectual disability (ID) is only third to the depressive disorders and anxiety disorders in India. This national burden significantly contributes to the global burden of ID and hence one has to think globally and act locally to reduce this burden. At its best the collective prevalence of ID is in the form of narrative reviews. There is an urgent need to document the summary prevalence of ID to enhance further policymaking, national programs and resource allocation.

AIM

To establish the summary prevalence of ID during the past 60 years in India.

METHODS

Two researchers independently and electronically searched PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane library from January 1961 to December 2020 using appropriate search terms. Two other investigators extracted the study design, setting, participant characteristics, and measures used to identify ID. Two other researchers appraised the quality of the studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal format for Prevalence Studies. Funnel plot and Egger’s regression test were used to ascertain the publication and small study effect on the prevalence. To evaluate the summary prevalence of ID, we used the random effects model with arcsine square-root transformation. Heterogeneity of I² ≥ 50% was considered substantial and we determined the heterogeneity with meta-regression. The analyses were performed using STATA (version 16).

RESULTS

Nineteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. There was publication bias; the trim-and-fill method was used to further ascertain bias. Concerns with control of confounders and the reliable measure of outcome were noted in the critical appraisal. The summary prevalence of ID was 2% [(95%CI: 2%, 3%); I² = 98%] and the adjusted summary prevalence was 1.4%. Meta-regression demonstrated that age of the participants was statistically significantly related to the prevalence; other factors did not influence the prevalence or heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

The summary prevalence of ID in India was established to be 2% taking into consideration the individual prevalence studies over the last six decades. This knowledge should improve the existing disability and mental health policies, national programs and service delivery to reduce the national and global burden associated with ID.

Keywords: India; Intellectual disability; Prevalence; Children and adolescents; Meta-analysis

Core Tip: Intellectual disability (ID) is prevalent in India and earlier epidemiological studies on mental disorders have documented the lifetime prevalence of ID. However, the documented prevalence of ID in the country shows a wide range. The burden posed by ID is only third to the depressive disorders and anxiety disorders among mental disorders. The burden of ID in India significantly contributes to the global burden of ID; to decrease this we need to think globally and act locally in an evidence-based manner. To date, the prevalence of ID in India has been shown in narrative reviews. This suggests that the summary prevalence of ID in India has to be ascertained to help improve the existing disability and mental health policies, national programs and service delivery. This meta-analysis established that the summary lifetime prevalence of ID in India is 2%.