Article
Children with special needs: Use of health services, behaviour and ethnicity

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0190-7409(99)00029-8Get rights and content

Abstract

The aims of this paper are to

  • 1.

    1) describe the types of health services used by children with special needs, in relation to their ethnic background and

  • 2.

    2) to investigate the relationship between the severity of their behaviour and the use of services.

A sample of 106 children (European=42, Asian=45, Afro-Caribbean=19) was selected. Hyperactivity seemed to be most problematic for the three groups, though there were no significant differences between them in terms of the five aberrant behaviours. Over the previous year, no children had been seen by their General Practitioners (GPs) for mental health difficulties, rather they had been seen mainly for chest problems, particularly Afro-Caribbeans, or cold-related problems, particularly Asians. A large proportion of children had sought nursing care for health monitoring. Two European and two Asian children had received nursing help on their behaviour and living skills. Some had also sought help from hospital doctors for such physical problems as epilepsy, hearing and vision impairment, cardiovascular problems, mobility and ENT (ear, nose and throat). More Afro-Caribbean than European children had sought help from ENT doctors. Some had also sought dental check-ups, preventative and corrective treatments, as well as help from opticians. The majority of mothers thought that the services they had received were satisfactory. Out of all services, they thought that teachers and GPs understood their children's problems best. Some opinions were also expressed on the improvement of the above services. A significant association was found between social withdrawal, lethargy or inappropriate speech and GP contact.

References (31)

  • L. Abbeduto

    Development of verbal communication in persons with moderate to mild mental retardation

    International Review of Research in Mental Retardation

    (1991)
  • BJ Freeman et al.

    The stability of cognitive and behavioral parameters in autism: A twelve-year prospective study

    Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

    (1991)
  • MG Aman et al.

    The aberrant behaviour checklist: a behaviour rating scale for the assessment of treatment effects

    American Journal of Mental Deficiency

    (1985)
  • Association of Metropolitan Authorities

    Special child — special needs: Services for children with disabilities

    (1994)
  • C Baxter

    Parent-perceived attitudes of professionals: implications for service providers

    Disability, Handicap & Society

    (1989)
  • C Baxter

    Double discrimination

    (1991)
  • W.L. Bickerton et al.

    Adaptive functioning and behaviour of children with special needs: Comparison between ethnic groups

    Mental Handicap Research

    (1995)
  • British Medical Association

    Leading for health: A BMA agenda for health

    (1991)
  • Census
  • L.J. Donaldson et al.

    Aspects of the health and social service needs of elderly Asians

    (1984)
  • WR Dunlap et al.

    Classification of the hearing impaired for independent living using the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale

    American Annals of the Deaf

    (1990)
  • I. Fatimilehin et al.

    A cross-cultural study of parental attitudes and beliefs about learning disability

    Mental Handicap Research

    (1994)
  • GS Fisch et al.

    Folic Acid treatment of fragile X males: A further study

    American Journal of Medical Genetics

    (1988)
  • Cited by (5)

    We are grateful to all the mothers who participated in this study. We also wish to thank the Department of Education, the Headteachers, and Dr Christos Tsesmelis for their help and support. This project was funded by the former West Birmingham Health Authority.

    View full text