ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE DIAGNOSIS OF MENTAL-RETARDATION AND SOCIOECONOMIC-FACTORS

Clinic data from the regional hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, ove r 4 years for 538 children with a diagnosis of mental retardation were examined in order to establish whether differences in mental retardat ion referral patterns existed between low and high socioeconomic areas . Results indicate that mild mental retardation referrals were underre presented in low socioeconomic areas and that paramedical agencies wer e the primary referral source in these areas. Differences in mild ment al retardation referral patterns by area over time may stem from servi ce difficulties or variations in referral thresholds. Cross-cultural i mplications of the findings were discussed with relevance to the devel opment of culturally sensitive community-based intervention programs.