RESUMO
A representative sample of 260 Polish children, aged 5-14 years, identified between 1964 and 1965 in an epidemiological study as severely mentally handicapped (IQs ranging from 0 to 51) were followed up twice: (I) after 10 years (in 1975-1976); and (II) after 23 years (in 1987-1988). At both follow-ups, all surviving subjects were contacted, and psychological and sociological data were gathered; the findings presented here pertain mostly to follow-up II. The great majority of subjects (85%) lived with their families, and the remainder resided in an institution. Only 10% of subjects (living with one exception in families) currently had a higher level of intellectual functioning than that of severe mental handicap. Among this group were individuals of relatively better health, without speech disorders, who had attended schools, had some vocational training, had been or were employed, and had families of their own, i.e. were self-dependent with a life-style similar to that of other people of their age and social background. Of the remainder, about 40% retained the same relative level of intellectual and social functioning, and about 50% deteriorated, particularly those in institutions. This latter group has remained in the role of permanent children, depending on others for care and maintenance.
Assuntos
Atividades Cotidianas/psicologia , Deficiência Intelectual/reabilitação , Inteligência , Adolescente , Adulto , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Incidência , Deficiência Intelectual/epidemiologia , Deficiência Intelectual/psicologia , Estilo de Vida , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Polônia/epidemiologia , Reabilitação Vocacional/psicologia , Ajustamento SocialRESUMO
Some results of the study of genetic counseling effectiveness, conducted in 1980-1981, are the subject of this paper. The main group under the study consisted of 187 families with the Down syndrome child, who in the period 1974-1979 visited the Genetics Clinic of NRIMC and received genetic counseling there. The relation between genetic counseling and the procreation sphere among the studied families is presented. Procreation plans have been analysed with special emphasis made on changes related to genetic counseling. The influence of this counseling as a factor reducing fear of having a child with a disease has been confirmed. It has been found that procreation plans have changed after the counseling especially among those women who did not plan pregnancy earlier. Some psychological aspects of genetic counseling as are essential for forming procreation attitudes of the consulting families have also been discussed.