Abstract
Although the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities enshrines the right to health for all persons with disabilities (PDs), PDs face health disparities in terms of access to rehabilitation resources, which is important for service supply. This study aimed to explore the trends and distribution of rehabilitation resources for PDs in China from 2014 to 2019, explore the main factors that influence equity, and provide suggestions for policymakers. Data were obtained from the annual China Statistical Bulletin on the Development of Disabled Persons and the database of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation. Six types of rehabilitation resources were chosen to measure the trends in allocation and equity. Data on disparities were analyzed based on western, central, and eastern regions. The Health Resource Density Index and Theil Index were calculated to determine the degree and density of unfairness. The findings show a steady increasing trend in the amount of rehabilitation resources in China from 2014 to 2019. The density and equity of allocation of rehabilitation resources have improved greatly in recent years. Regional disparities were principally caused by differences within the regions. Suggestions including expanding investment in rehabilitation resources and developing rehabilitation systems were put forward.
Highlights
It is estimated that approximately 15% of the global population has experienced some form of disability, and that between 110 and 190 million people have a severe physical impairment [1].With the aging of the global population, as well as the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases and unhealthy lifestyles, the number of groups with disabilities will further increase [2,3]
China? As the Theil Index is more sensitive in evaluating the equality of resource allocation, we aimed to explore the trends and distribution of rehabilitation resources for persons with disabilities (PDs) in China from 2014 to 2019
It is estimated that the actual number of PDs is much higher than the Registered Persons with Disabilities (RPD) who are registered with China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF)
Summary
It is estimated that approximately 15% of the global population has experienced some form of disability, and that between 110 and 190 million people have a severe physical impairment [1]. With the aging of the global population, as well as the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases and unhealthy lifestyles, the number of groups with disabilities will further increase [2,3]. Rehabilitation is a fundamental health service for people with a variety of health conditions, and it addresses the impact of a health condition on a person’s life by focusing primarily on improving their functioning and reducing the experience of disability [4]. Goal 3 (SDG): Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, universal health coverage, Int. J. Public Health 2020, 17, 7319; doi:10.3390/ijerph17197319 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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