Association between self-reported disability and population profiles among Bhutanese population

Abstract

Although numerous initiatives are being undertaken to prevent and address the issues related to disabilities, more than 15% of the global population still live with disabilities. The information on prevalence of self-reported disability (by domains) and their association with population profiles among Bhutanese population is limited. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using secondary data collected during National Health Survey 2012 to see the associations between self-reported disability and the potential explanatory factors.

The prevalence of self-reported disability was 5.59% with 2.13% (95% CI: 2.02-2.25%) reporting disabilities in two or more domains and 0.06% reporting disabilities in all six domains. The male (5.89%; aOR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.59-1.90), no formal schooling (12.06%), unemployed (aOR: 1.78 95% CI: 1.42-2.22), and poorest wealth quintile (7.96%; (aOR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.16-1.63) were at higher risk of self-reported disability as compared to their counterparts. The prevalence of disabilities increased with age (aOR: 4.51, 95% CI: 3.72-5.45) and higher among rural populations (6.78%; aOR:2.28, 95% CI: 1.93-2.69).

The prevalence rate of self-reported disability was 5.9% and socio-demographic characteristics such as age, sex, wealth quintile, education, residence (rural/urban), region, and occupation were significantly associated with self-reported disability.