A survey of the health, sleep, and development of children adopted from China

Health Soc Work. 2006 Aug;31(3):201-7. doi: 10.1093/hsw/31.3.201.

Abstract

The health, development, and sleeping patterns of 240 children adopted from China were examined using a survey research approach. Eighty percent of the children were 18 months of age or younger when adopted, and 98 percent of the children were girls. Sixty-two percent of the children were reported to have been developmentally delayed at the time of adoption; of this number, 91 percent were reported to have had delays in motor development. Of the families, 52 percent reported that children experienced sleep problems, but only 9 percent of the total sample experienced significant sleep difficulties. Implications for social workers are also discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adoption / ethnology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • China / ethnology
  • Developmental Disabilities / epidemiology*
  • Developmental Disabilities / ethnology
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Orphanages / statistics & numerical data
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / ethnology
  • United States / epidemiology