Abstract
In order to investigate the children with severe disability hospitalized for more than one year, we sent questionnaires to the major hospitals with neonatal care units in the Kyushu district. At the 36 major hospitals with neonatal care units (answering rate=90%), a total of 57 children was hospitalized for more than one year, including 38 children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) requiring medical treatment in October, 1995, and a total of 46 children, including 33 children with SMID requiring medical treatment in January, 1997.
The children being hospitalized due to prematurity were under three years of age. In the children hospitalized due to congenital anomalies, birth asphyxia and others, however, the age stratum was relatively high. The children who had been hospitalized due to prematurity in October, 1995 were all discharged (inclusive of death) in January, 1997, while the majority of children due to congenital anomalies, birth asphyxia and others remained hospitalized. Particularly, the children with SMID requiring medical treatment continued to stay in the hospitals with neonatal care units.
In order to improve this situation, it appears necessary to reinforce rear facilities including institutions for rehabilitation and education of children with SMID.
