An Empirical Study of Causes of Disability in India

Abstract

In the field of health related research the pattern of causes provide a clear and in depth idea about the situation of the diseases and injuries prevalence in the population under study. Identifying the causes of disability among sex, place of residence and most importantly among different age groups have a useful contribution in proper health planning. The main focus of the study is to explore the patterns of causes of disability in India. Here, NSS-58th round-2002 disabled persons data has been analyzed using univariate, bivariate and two way ANOVA analysis. Results reveal that locomotor disability is the most prevalent type of disability affecting the population of all ages in India. Mental problems are highest among working age population, and visual and hearing disability are highest among the aged population. Mental disability is occurring mainly due to serious illness during childhood, head injury in childhood and pregnancy and birth related causes. Old age, cataract, glaucoma and other eye disease are the main causes for having visual problems while polio, injury other than burns, other illness, stroke, arthritis, cerebral palsy are the main causes of locomotor disability. The study also shows that injury other than burns is a vital cause of having disability in India.