Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological data of children with disabilities obtained by the INfants and Children's Health Screening (INCHS) program in South Korea. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control study by extracting data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database for children who were diagnosed with disabilities within 60 months of birth. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were performed to compare 35,072 children born after the introduction of the INCHS program (2008-2014) with a control group born before (2002-2007). The analysis included disability registration rates by region and income, the statistical significance of timing of disability detection, and time taken to receive disability diagnosis after the INCHS program began. RESULTS: Data on a total of 35,072 children were analyzed, revealing a significant increase (P < 0.001) in disability detection among the case group after 36 months compared with the control group. Although the average time to detect disabilities varied by disability type, no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) was found in the proportion of hospital visits within 7 vs. 30 days between mild and severe groups. This suggests that the INCHS program can increase disability detection rates after 36 months and that there is potential for earlier disability detection. CONCLUSIONS: The INCHS program positively influenced the detection of disabilities after 36 months suggesting potential limitations in early detection. Efforts are needed to address delays in diagnosing disability and improve access to early intervention, particularly for children with mild disabilities.