IDEA (Intellectual Disability Exploring Answers) Database

The IDEA database has information on all children born in Western Australia since 1983 who have been identified with an intellectual disability. IDEA is one of the only population-based resources in the world dedicated to intellectual disability. Information is accessed from the Department of Communities WA, the WA Department of Education, and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to create the database. From IDEA, it has been found that one in 50 children in Australia are diagnosed with intellectual disability. IDEA can be linked by Data Services WA with other datasets, to facilitate research into the determinants, outcomes and service needs of children and adults with intellectual disability.

Investigators

Carol Bower, Helen Leonard, Jenny Bourke

Project description

The IDEA database has information on all children born since 1983 who have been identified with an intellectual disability. Approximately 2% of children are estimated to have an intellectual disability and any researcher can apply to the database to link individuals with intellectual disability to other administrative databases or specific cohorts in a de-identified format with ethical approval.

Such studies have investigated neurodevelopmental outcomes for children with congenital heart defects and the impact of intimate partner violence on children’s outcomes. Other current studies that have linked to IDEA have found that whilst infants born preterm are at risk of major disability or death, other factors such as their Apgar score at birth, birthweight, sex and socioeconomic status also impact on this risk. Mothers with an intellectual disability are more likely to have pre-existing medical conditions and their infants born preterm than are other mothers, indicating they may need additional support during pregnancy.

External partners

Department of Communities (formerly Disability Services Commission)
Department of Education WA