La Revue de Sante de la Mediterranee orientale, Vol. 15, No 6 - April 15, 2009 - Back to Resources Page

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ABSTRACT To identify the prevalence of disability and characteristics, conditions and needs of those with disabilities in rural communities in the north of the West Bank, 10 147 families were screened in a cross-sectional survey. Prevalence was 1.7% (806 persons with disabilities). Physical (34.0%), mental (15.9%) and speech (11.4%) disabilities were the commonest. The major cause as perceived by the families was heredity (30.5%): parental consanguinity was 50.8%. Economic conditions were the major problem for 41.1%, and the main barrier to receiving care: only 49.3% were receiving some kind of care. Integration in educational, work and social activities was low. Pressing needs included medical care, support equipment, and educational, physiotherapy and rehabilitation services.

There is a lack of accessibility to basicand rehabilitation services in low-income countries . It is believed that only 3% of those who need rehabilitation in these countries receive any meaningful services. Estimating the burden of disabilities is an essential step for planning appropriate rehabilitation programmes.As in other countries in the region, there is underreporting of disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Palestinian census in 1997 estimated the prevalence of disability at 1.8%. The highest rate, 2.3%, was in Qalqilia and Tulkarm districts in the north of the West Bank.

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La Revue de Sante de la Mediterranee orientale, Vol. 15, No 6 - April 15, 2009 - Back to Resources Page