Correlates of types and levels of disability among the disabled population in St. Vincent & the Grenadines

• Main Authors: Reanna Christina Solomon, 索雷娜
• Other Authors: Li-Yin Chien
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/34441053622664051741

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 公共衛生研究所 === 99 === In Latin America and the Caribbean about 50 million people or 10 percent of the region have been identified as disabled. While previous studies have focused on specific disabilities in countries and regions, information comparing different types of disabilities in populations is scarce. This study aims to compare socio-demographics, alcohol and drug dependence and presence of a caregiver among the different types and level of disabilities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The study participants were 2195 persons identified as having a disability by a population based survey in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This study was secondary data analysis utilizing multinomial regression. Results showed persons with intellectual disabilities to be the youngest among the disabled population and the multiple and visual disabilities affecting the older persons in the population. Persons with mental disabilities were the ones more likely to be alcohol and drug dependent and lower academic levels were associated with hearing disabilities. Persons with higher levels of function were more likely to be drug and alcohol dependent. This research highlights the significant consequences of disabilities such as the inability of many persons with hearing disabilities to achieve levels of education that are as high as the non-disabled population.