Challenges Facing Persons with Disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa

According to a study by World Bank, around 80 percent of the one billion people with disabilities worldwide live in developing nations. Recent data on disabilities gathered through routine household surveys in Botswana, Gabon, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe help to better understand the difficulties that people with disabilities face in the area.

A group that is frequently ignored in socio-economic analysis is given visibility by the collection of data and information on people with disabilities, as well as by including them on a regular basis in publications like poverty assessments. This might also assist nations in creating policies that support people with disabilities.

1. Rural areas have higher rates of disability.

Less financial means to travel, combined with the distance needed to access healthcare from more remote areas, are barriers to receiving treatment.

2. Women are more likely than men to be disabled.

A higher prevalence of disabilities among women is a result of unequal protections and rights. Many families with limited financial resources might decide to prioritize their male children’s health over their earning potential. Additionally, the higher prevalence of disabilities among women is influenced by pregnancy and childbirth. Due to prohibitive costs and a lack of medical staff, many pregnant women are unable to access adequate perinatal care, which has an impact on their health. Women with disabilities are more likely to experience domestic violence because it increases the number of cases of disability among women.

3. More people with disabilities are older.

Lack of access to healthcare can worsen over time, along with mobility restrictions, declines in eyesight and hearing, and difficulty concentrating due to aging. If left untreated, a condition can deteriorate to the point where it affects function. Pressure on Sub-Saharan Africa’s already constrained availability and accessibility of healthcare services and providers will only increase as the region’s young population ages.

4. Educational attainment is lower for people with disabilities.

Children with disabilities frequently leave the formal education system earlier than their peers without disabilities because schools frequently lack the resources to accommodate them. If a school-age child has vision issues but his or her family is unable to afford eyeglasses, the child may drop out of school earlier and experience vision impairment later in life. Children with disabilities may also be bullied or excluded from school activities, which raises the possibility of their educational success being limited.

5. People with disabilities face challenges when trying to enter the workforce.

Discrimination and a lack of accommodations from the employer are the main obstacles to employment. People who find employment—often part-time jobs—are paid less and have a lower chance of advancement. Many people with disabilities may become dependent on their families or social programs due to unstable employment and insufficient financial resources, which may make them more vulnerable.

These findings emphasize the significance of providing children with disabilities with high-quality education, encouraging human capital investment in girls to decrease gender disparities in disability, and getting health systems ready for an aging population with care needs that are becoming more varied and complex.