RAMALLAH, December 1, 2011 (WAFA) - The prevalence of disability was 2.7% in the Palestinian Territory distributed as 2.9% in the West Bank and 2.4% in Gaza Strip; while it was 2.9% for males and 2.5% for females, Thursday said a report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) on the Eve of International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
PCBS said that the prevalence of disability is strongly correlated with age. Disability rates are significantly higher among individuals aged 75 and above at 32.0%; 28.9% of males and 34.1% among females. Among children, the percentage was 1.5%; 1.8% among males and 1.3% among females.
With regard to the prevalence of disability according to region and age, 31.4% of individuals aged 75 and above were in the West Bank and 33.6% were in Gaza Strip. Among children 0-17 years, the rates were 1.6% in the West Bank and 1.4% in Gaza Strip, it said.
In Jenin governorate, 4.1% of individuals have a disability followed by Hebron governorate with 3.6%, while 1.4% in Jerusalem. In Gaza Strip, the highest prevalence was reported in Gaza governorate with 2.5%, followed by North Gaza, Rafah and Deir Al Balah governorates with 2.4% each. The lowest prevalence was in Khan Yunis governorate; 2.2%, said PCBS.
Mobility is the disability with the highest prevalence comprising 48.4% of disabled individuals in the Palestinian Territory: 49.5% in the West Bank compared to 47.2% in Gaza Strip. Learning disability is second with 24.7%: 23.6% in the West Bank and 26.9% in Gaza Strip said the report.
Illness is the main cause of all disabilities that are covered in the survey. Illness was the main cause of 43.7% of Seeing disabilities; 29.1% of hearing disabilities, 42.9% of mobility disabilities; 28.7% of disabilities relating to Remembering and Concentrating, 27.6% of learning disabilities; and 27.2% of mental disabilities. Congenital problems were the main cause of communication disabilities with 33.6%.
8.7% of disabled individuals aged 18 years and above in the Palestinian Territory usually avoid involvement in any activities because of public attitudes towards them: 9.5% in the West Bank and 7.7% in Gaza Strip.
76.4% of disabled individuals aged 18 years and above in the Palestinian Territory do not use public transportation due to the absence of necessary adaptations in the infrastructure; 75.5% in the West Bank and 78.1% in Gaza Strip.
34.2% of disabled individuals aged 18 years and above in the Palestinian Territory stated that they were unable to perform daily activities outside their homes due to their disability: 32.1% in the West Bank and 38.4% in Gaza Strip.
22.2% of disabled individuals aged 18 years and above in the Palestinian Territory dropped out of school due to the environmental and physical obstacles: 23.2% in the West Bank and 19.4% in Gaza Strip. Of these, 21.7% are male and 22.9% female.
54.7% have difficulty due to problems with not adequate pavements; 60.4% have difficulty crossing streets; 40.3% have difficulty in walking and crossing the streets due to the size of the road signs.
In addition, 42.9% of disabled individuals face difficulty due to the fact that recreation services are not available to them and 48.4% find problems with parking, PCBS concluded.
T.R./F.R.
