An epidemiological study of severe mental and motor handicap among children in the north of France

Patients and methods. - The files of 440 severely handicapped children in t he north of France were studied. These children had severe mental retardati on and ver poor motricity development. The methods of care and nursing were studied. Results. - Amounts these patients, 40.4% were in medico-social centers, 30% in non-medico-social centers, and 29.4% lived at home with their parents. Only 6% were unknown by the departmental commission of specialized educatio n (CDES). The rate of prevalence of the severely handicapped children from 5 to 19 years in the north of France was 0.7 per thousand. Conclusions. - Results are compared with those from an INSERM study abut ha ndicap patients in 14 French countries. (C) 1999 Elsevier, Paris.