Socioeconomic status and the prevalence of mental retardation in Bangladesh.

Results of a population-based study of the prevalence of mental retardation among 2- to 9-year-old children in Bangladesh were reported. More than 10,000 children were screened for mental retardation and other disabilities. All children with positive screening results plus a random sample with negative results were referred for clinical evaluations. The prevalence rates per 1,000 of severe and mild mental retardation in this population were 5.9 and 14.4, respectively. As found in studies in developed countries, the prevalence of mild mental retardation was strongly and significantly associated with low socioeconomic status, whereas the association for severe mental retardation was relatively weak and not significant.