A study of the prevalence of severe mental retardation among coloured children in an urban community.

The administrative prevalence of severe mental retardation among Coloured children of school-going age in the Cape Town suburb of Athlone was found to be between 2,64 and 3,36 per 1 000 children. The pattern of additional handicap and the extent to which these children received adequate management was examined. While the level of residential care available was comparable to that provided in Europe, the provision of day training facilities was grossly deficient.