Disabilities and Their Prevention
Disabilities
Impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions.
Affect interaction between persons and the environment they live in and may prevent disabled individuals from realising their full potential.
Why Prevention?
Recent research establishes that many disabilities can be prevented, if timely measures are taken.
Socio-economic costs of prevention of disabilities are far lower than costs of rehabilitation.
Stages of Prevention of Disabilities
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Primary Prevention
Involves prevention of disability by addressing the causes of disability
Needs to be carried out early, either before birth (prenatal) or just after (neonatal)
May be carried out (with a large national budget) universally or be restricted to selected groups (high risk groups or individuals with an identified risk) for maximum effectiveness
Involves:
Genetic counseling
Improved prenatal, perinatal and postnatal care
Metabolic screening
Nutritional supplementation for expectant and nursing mothers
Immunization
Disabilities that can be prevented
Several genetic disorders and birth defects
Childhood diseases like TB, diphtheria, polio, tetanus, measles, mumps and rubella
Learning Disabilities like dyscalculia, dyslexia and dysgraphia
Types of mental retardation
Secondary Prevention
Early diagnosis and prompt intervention (carried out in infancy) in the treatment of diseases, injuries or conditions to reduce their severity.
Focus on neonatal (clinical and biochemical) screening.
Disabilities that can be prevented or reduced in severity.
Phenylketonuria (PKU).
Aminoacidurias.
Hypothyroidism.
Thalassaemias.
Haemoglobinopathis.
Sickle cell anaemia.
Congenital heart disease.
Cleft lip and cleft palate.
Congenital dislocation of the hip.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (early detection).
Tertiary Prevention
All disabilities that are diagnosed late.
Aimed at limiting or reducing the effects of a disorder or disability that is already present.
Focus is on treatment of disabilities and rehabilitation (special education and training to develop work skills) which reduces the impact of the disability.
Also involves support for research into the cases and treatment of disabilities including the development of drugs for disabilities and their co-morbid conditions.
Magnitude of Disability in India
Persons affected with disabilities – 18.49 million (1.8% of population).
1.85% of rural population/1.50% of urban population suffer disability.
Census 2001 estimates higher level of disability – 2.2%.
8.4% (Rural) and 6.1% (Urban) households report at least one disabled person.
10.63% of the disabled suffered from more than one type of disability.
55% of disabled in India are illiterate and only 9% have completed secondary or higher education.
Source: National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) 2002