Abstract
Background: Health inequities for children with intellectual disabilities (ID) are prevalent within different health systems, and children with ID have shorter life expectancies than the general population, higher mortality rates before the age of 17 and have a greater risk of potentially preventable hospitalisations. A health systems approach to research in this area provides a useful means through which research can inform policy and practice to ensure people with ID receive equitable healthcare; however, there is a paucity of evidence regarding how to address differences that have been described in the literature to date. The overall aim of this research is to establish the extent of health inequities for children with ID in Ireland compared to children without ID with respect to their utilisation of primary care and rates of hospitalisation, and to gain a better understanding of what influences utilisation of primary care and ED services in this population. Methods and analysis: The design of this research adopts a mixed-methods approach: statistical analysis of health data to determine the extent of health inequities in relation to healthcare utilisation; discrete choice experiments to explore General Practitioners' decision making and parental preferences for optimal care; and concept mapping to develop consensus between stakeholders on how to address current healthcare inequities. Discussion: By applying a systems lens to the issue of health inequities for children with ID, the research hopes to gain a thorough understanding of the varying components that can contribute to the maintenance of such healthcare inequities. A key output from the research will be a set of feasible solutions and interventions that can address health inequities for this population.
Highlights
The health needs of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are often complex and this population are known to utilise health services more often than people without ID; an effect that remains generally stable cross-culturally[1,2]
Children with ID have poorer reported health status than children without and such health disparities are more marked in children and young people compared to other age groups[3]
The overarching aim of the research is to establish the extent of health inequities for children with ID in Ireland compared to children without ID, with a focus on their utilisation of primary care and rates of hospitalisation, to gain a better understanding of what influences utilisation and avoidable hospitalisations in this population
Summary
The health needs of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are often complex and this population are known to utilise health services more often than people without ID; an effect that remains generally stable cross-culturally[1,2]. Children with ID have poorer reported health status than children without and such health disparities are more marked in children and young people compared to other age groups[3] This population has a shorter life expectancy than the general population, with higher mortality rates before the age of 17 in children with disabilities compared to those without[4]. In Ireland, the mortality rate of people with ID under the age of 19 is seven times higher than the general population[5]. Health inequities for children with intellectual disabilities (ID) are prevalent within different health systems, and children with ID have shorter life expectancies than the general population, higher mortality rates before the age of 17 and have a greater risk of potentially preventable hospitalisations.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
