A Cross Sectional Study to Assess the Socio Demographic Profile and the Challenges Faced by the Disabled Patients Attending Kims OPD.

Background: In our everyday life we come across people with various disabilities. There are times when we have felt pity for them but havent really thought about the facilities and concern that we could provide for them to make their life a liveable one in everyday society. But we have talked more and done little on this. They continue to be stigmatised in the society with fewer employment options, unmet needs in the health care delivery system and the ever present social segregation. It is high time we look into this and beyond. Hence the need for the study. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conduted to assess the socio demographic profile and the challenges faced by the disability patients attending KIMS opd. The study was done for a period of one month from 4-6-2019 to 3-7-2019. 100 patients with disability were randomly selected and a pretested structured questionnaire was given to them. The responses were entered in Excel sheet and tabulated using SPSS version 20. Percentages and proportions were obtained. Statistical association were interpreted among various parameters and represented as tables and figures. Conclusion: Disability was more prevalent in the younger working male population,thus hindering the productivity of the nation. There was significant association between education of the patient and awareness about the facilities for the disabled and also between disability at birth and history of consanguinous marriage among parents. Social stigma, lack of decent employment,difficulties in obtaining disability certificate and financial dependency were some of the major challenges faced by the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]