Sources of Disability Data

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Sources of Disability Data

• Angela Me, Chief Social and Demographic
  Statistics Section

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An example of populations with disability
Body Functions and Structure Limitations
Visual impairment
Hearing impairment
Participation restrictions
Working disability/Benefits
Activity limitations
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Counting/Identifying the different population
groups

• What statistical sources can we use to identify
  and count the different population groups?

4
Only limited forms of disabilities can be
identified using administrative registers
Body Functions and Structure Limitations
Severe impairments
Participation restrictions
Working disability/Benefits
Activity limitations
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Only limited forms of disabilities can be
identified using administrative registers
Body Functions and Structure Limitations
Severe impairments
Participation restrictions
Working disability/Benefits
Activity limitations
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Counting/Identifying the different population
groups

• Some of the body functions and structure
  limitations can be measured through
  administrative registers
• Activity limitations and participation
  restrictions can be accurately measured only
  through population-based methods (household
  surveys and population censuses) because they can
  assess the individuals functioning as a whole
  person, as opposed to those function and
  structure of his/her body parts which may not be
  relevant for administrative purposes

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Counting/Identifying the different population
groups

• In principle, population-based data methods can
  identify people according to all the ICF domains
  because they can measure the individuals
  experience of the disability process in all its
  components
• The more population groups we want to identify,
  more information we need to collect in the data
  collection methods
• Not all population-based methods can identify all
  the relevant populations

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Population-based data collection

• Population census
• Specialized disability surveys
• Other household surveys
• Health examination surveys
• Each of these data sources can identify all or
  only some of the population groups relevant for
  studying disability

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Population Census

• No history in Central Asia in the collection of
  disability data through the census
• BUT
• Long tradition in other parts of the world

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Population Census
Source Archives of the 1811 Census, General
Register Office of Scotland
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Population Census
Source Archives of the 1811 Census, General
Register Office of Scotland
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Population Census
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Population Census

• Advantages
• Provide data for small areas and small population
  groups
• Data are not affected by sampling errors
• Comparison between persons with and without
  disabilities can be done for education,
  employment and other relevant characteristics
  collected in the census

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Population Census

• Limitations
• Only short/simple questions can be included
  therefore it can identify only one population
  group relevant for disability (one ICF domain)
• Only basic socio-demographic characteristics for
  people with disability can be collected
• Often institutionalized population are covered
  only through a short questionnaire
• It is very costly
• Extend use of proxy
• Disability has low priority limited training
• Data only every 10 years

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Population Census
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Population Census

• Countries with similar statistical systems
  existing in Central Asia used the census to
  collect data on disability
• Bulgaria
• Estonia
• Hungary
• Lithuania
• Poland

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Population Census

• Why is it used in many countries to collect
  disability data?
• For some countries it is the ONLY source of
  information
• For some countries it is a complementary source
  to provide disability data for small
  areas/population groups

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Population Census

• Disability is a non-core topic in the Conference
  of European Statisticians Recommendations
  Recommendations for the 2010 Census Round

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Population Census

• In very few countries it is used to screen for a
  follow-up specialized survey (Canada)

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Household Surveys

• Specialized disability surveys
• Other surveys (disability modules)
• Health Interview Survey
• Living Standard Measurement Survey
• Labour Force Surveys, Victimization surveys
• Multi-purpose surveys
• Examination surveys

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Household Surveys
Source Tajikistan LSMS 2003
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Household Surveys
Source Kyrgyzstan LSMS 1993
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Household Surveys
Source Kyrgyzstan LSMS 1998
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Household Surveys

• Advantages
• Greater flexibility in the depth and range of
  topics
• Greater flexibility in designing a proper module
  to identify persons with disabilities
• If existing in the statistical plan, they are
  easier to use by including a disability module
• Greater control over the conditions of
  observation and the interview, better training

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Household Surveys

• Limitations
• Limited ability to analyze prevalence rates for
  local areas/small population groups
• Often populations in unusual circumstances, such
  as institutionalized persons, homeless, refugees
  or nomadic populations, are not covered
• Greater control over the conditions of
  observation and the interview, better training

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Household Surveys

• Potentially, specialized disability surveys are
  the most comprehensive tools to describe the
  disability process since they can implement the
  most extensive modules. They can identify the
  disability experience according to all the ICF
  domains and they can collect the most extensive
  set of information on the persons with
  disabilities
• On-going surveys (like censuses) have the
  advantage of providing information to compare
  people with and without disabilities but have the
  disadvantage of employing short
  measures/questions and therefore limiting the
  identification of persons with disabilities to
  one domain

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Household Surveys

• However, the group of persons with disabilities
  that can be identified depends on the
  instrument/questions used more than on the source
• Bad/narrow questions used in specialized
  disability surveys identify a narrow process of
  disability
• A good instrument/module included in the census
  can identify the population with disabilities
  which goes beyond the people in need for social
  security and can address relevant policy
  questions such as the equalization of
  opportunities

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Disability prevalence rates by data collection
methods Source DISTAT
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Household Surveys

• Health surveys are also a good source of
  disability data
• Could they be potentially used in Central Asia to
  improve the disability data currently available?