Survey design strategies for the study of disability

Abstract

This article examines international statistical guidelines and recommendations relevant to the collection and analysis of disability data in population census, household survey and civil registration programmes. It also gives examples of survey design methods and their influence on findings of disability surveys. These examples are taken from the results of population censuses, household surveys and registration systems of 55 countries, as compiled in the United Nations Disability Statistics Data Base (DISTAT, 1988). Comparisons of crude disability rates, defined as the percentage of the total population that is disabled, indicate considerable variation in the rates both within and across the major data-collection types. Cross-national variations in disability rates are not only due to actual differences in disability rates, but are also the result of differences in survey design, the statistical concepts and definitions and the survey screening devices used. This article provides the reader with specific examples of screening devices tried and topics covered in survey programmes, and reviews the potential for using the ICIDH as one way of standardizing survey results. Short lists of impairments and disabilities for survey research are proposed. Survey implementation of the study of handicap is also discussed, and a list of possible survey topics for the study of handicap is outlined.