National Prevalence Survey for Disabilities in Egypt: Assessing Its Epidemiological Pattern and Risk Factors

Background: Disability is an interaction between individuals with a health condition, personal and environmental factors. About 15% of the world`s population, have some form of disability.

Objective: This study was a national community-based survey conducted through the fund from the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (grant no 13893) to define the magnitude of the problem of disabilities in Egypt in the context of children aged 2 years till 12 years as well as the identification of its risk factors.

Methods: This survey was carried out in 8 Governorates representing all geographic regions of Egypt. All children were subjected to the modified checklist for disabilities as a screening tool, suspected children were referred to Maternal and child health facilities of the Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Research Centre clinics for confirmation and to get managed. The actual sample size achieved was 41,558 children out of the 22,022 visited household.   

Results: 9.7% (4047/41558) of the surveyed children suffered from disabilities; 60.7 % were boys versus 39.6% girls. Speech and comprehension were the most prevalent disabilities. The most common significant risk factors for disabilities were suffering from convulsions (OR = 5.9) followed by cyanosis after birth (OR = 4.8), meningitis (OR = 3.9), preterm pregnancy less than 7 months (OR = 3.14) and low birth weight less than 2.5 kg at birth (OR = 2.92). mother`s health problem during pregnancy (OR = 2.27), being incubated for more than two days (OR = 2.23), jaundice after birth (OR = 1.51), and difficult labor (OR = 1.3). The highest percentage of children with the developmental delays was in the age group from 5 - < 6 years (10.5%).

Conclusions: Children with disabilities have the right to greater access to health care services and thereafter will experience their unmet health care needs.