Key messages

Abstract

SI Michelsen, P Due, A Andersen National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark Contact: pdu@niph.dk Background: Children and adolescents with chronic conditions are more challenged educationally, compared with adolescents without chronic conditions. Information about their educational and occupational prognoses is beneficial in planning optimal support in transition from school to education and the labor market. This paper aims to report prevalence of special education in school, education and employment in 6-20-year old children and adolescents with and without chronic conditions. Methods: This is a register-based study. In total 204,382 persons aged 620 years (born 1994-2008) was randomly sampled in the National Civil Registry and linked to health, social and educational registries by personal identification number. Chronic physical and mental/behavioral condition was defined by diagnoses, medicine-use or health visits recorded in the health registries. Results (preliminary): More children aged 6-15 years with chronic conditions received special education in school: 44% of those with combined physical and mental/behavioral condition, 34% of those with only a mental/behavioral condition and 5% of those with only a physical chronic condition, compared to 1% of children without a chronic condition. Less 16-20-year-olds with a mental/behavioral chronic condition was listed as attending school, education or employment (85%), compared to adolescents without chronic condition (97%). Most children with physical chronic conditions who did receive special education in lower secondary school, remained in lower secondary school at age 16-18 (53%) or were enrolled in special youth education (23%). Conclusions: We need to ensure that adolescents with mental/behavioral chronic condition keep attached to the educational system or labor market at age 16-20 years. Key messages: Special youth education seems to create an important educational possibility for adolescents with chronic conditions. Children and adolescents with mental/behavioral chronic conditions need extra focus when leaving lower secondary school.