With a dramatic decrease in infant mortality, an emerging challenge facing modern medicine in China is chronic disabling conditions in infants and young children. According to the results of a national sampling survey in 1987, it is estimated that there are over 51 million people of all ages with disabilities, which accounts for 4.9% of the total population. One out every five families in China has a member who is disabled. For children under 14 years of age, the overall prevalence rate of disability is 2.66%. The prevalence rate of mental retardation is 1.8% which accounts for 66% of all disabled children. Mental retardation is the most frequent childhood disability. Research on factors contributing to disability indicates the complexity of the problem. The etiology of 47% of cases is unknown, 21% of cases result from damage prenatally, 3% are due to perinatal factors, 29% are acquired during infancy and early childhood. Efforts to prevent developmental disabilities among children can be classified in terms of primary, secondary and tertiary activities. The most important primary prevention activities consist of genetic counselling, immunization programmes, improved prenatal, perinatal and postnatal health care, and legislation. On the secondary preventive level, focus is primarily on prenatal diagnosis and newborn screening. Tertiary preventive efforts include special education and comprehensive rehabilitation services. While these prevention efforts have been established, they are insufficient to meet the the needs of disabled children and their families. In the context of the one child per family policy in China, much more is needed, much more can be done to reduce childhood disability. In addition to strengthening prevention efforts at all 3 levels, special emphasis should be placed on (a) integration of existing primary health care systems with early intervention programmes, (b) public education and information, (c) personnel preparation, and (d) research and evaluation.
