Professional paper
A Six-year Trend Analysis of The Number of Persons With Disabilities in The Republic of Croatia and The City of Zagreb, 2008-2013
Tomislav Benjak
; Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Marija Škes
; Nastavni zavod za javno zdravstvo “Dr. Andrija Štampar”, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Vesna Štefančić
; Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Zeljka Draušnik
; Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Maja Vajagić
; Hrvatski zavod za zdravstveno osiguranje, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
According to the United Nations estimate, there are about one billion persons with disabilities in the world, accounting for some 15% of the world’s population. In Croatia, relevant parameters on individuals with disabilities have been collected through the Register of Persons with Disabilities. The aim of this study was to compare the pattern of disability prevalence and causes of disability between the Republic of Croatia and the City of Zagreb during the 2008–2013 period, with the understanding that information on the national and regional level can be used in the process of planning care for people with disabilities, but also as indicators in the evaluation of implemented measures and programs. Data obtained from the Croatian Register of Persons with Disabilities distributed according to age, sex, and type of disability were used in a comparison of the Republic of Croatia and the City of Zagreb. Data from the Register of Persons with Disabilities revealed that the prevalence of disability in the Republic of Croatia rose continuously from 11.0% in 2008 to 12.1% in 2012, and then fell to 11.9% in 2013. In the City of Zagreb, an increase in the prevalence of disability was recorded from 2008 (11.4%) to 2010 (11.9%), followed by a slight fall in 2011 and 2013 (11.5% in both years), with 11.6% recorded in 2012. In 2010, the same prevalence of disability – 11.9% – was recorded in the Republic of Croatia and the City of Zagreb.
In conclusion, the prevalence of disability was recorded in the Republic of Croatia and the City of Zagreb, with comparable sex and age distribution according to the causes of disability. Some differences should probably be attributed to the fact that, in the Republic of Croatia, disability validation is performed by six different disability boards and based on different legislation. Establishment of a unique disability board using uniform criteria on disability evaluation will certainly contribute to standardized presentation of the causes of disability and to the development of epidemiology in this particular field of medical science.
Keywords
disability patterns; prevalence of disability; Register of Persons with Disabilities; Zagreb; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
150141
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2015.
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