Authors:
Leonard H, Glasson E, Bebbington A, Hammond G, Croft D, Pikora T, Fairthorne J, O'Donnell M, O'Leary C, Hansen M, Watson L, Francis RW, Carter KW, McKenzie A, Bower C, Bourke J, Glauert R
Authors notes:
International Review of Research in Developmental Disabilities. Volume 45: Academic Press; 2013. p. 281-327.
Keywords:
Intellectual disability, Autism, Data linkage, Population data, Epidemiology
Abstract:
Data linkage is the bringing together of specific datasets from different sources using demographic information on individuals within a population.
In Western Australia, systematic record linkages between multiple datasets including births, deaths, and hospital morbidity have occurred since 1997.
Linkage to other population datasets related to intellectual disability and autism provides an infrastructure to undertake research in this area.
The purpose of this chapter is to use the Western Australian experience to describe the potential of data linkage to improve the understanding of the epidemiology of intellectual disability and autism.