Disability status and multi-dimensional personal well-being among adolescents in the Southern Highlands Region of Tanzania: results of a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectiveExamine how disability status among adolescents is associated with the following domains of personal well-being: schooling, livelihoods, health, violence and psychosocial well-being. It is hypothesised that adolescents with a disability will have greater deficits in these areas of well-being compared with their healthier counterparts.DesignCross-sectional data from 2018 were obtained from the second round of an on-going study of adolescents living in poor households in two regions of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania (Iringa and Mbeya). We use the Washington Group (WG) Short Set indicators to measure disability and undertook logistic and linear multivariate regressions to understand the association between disability and the outcomes of interest.ParticipantsThe sample included 2274 participants aged 15–20 years living in households participating in a government social protection programme targeted to households living in extreme poverty.ResultsOverall, 310 participants (14%) were classified as having disabilities. Outcomes not associated with disability status included literacy, schooling, livelihoods and self-efficacy. Adolescents with disabilities were less likely to report good or very good health (adjusted OR (aOR)=0.39, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.52) and had increased odds of reporting depressive symptoms in (aOR=1.46, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.90), emotional violence (aOR=2.18, 95% CI 1.49 to 3.20) and physical violence (aOR=1.71, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.59), compared with those without disabilities. Reports of depression were higher among men, and violence was more prevalent among women. Patterns of association were generally similar between men and women, although the association of disability with markers of well-being reached statistical significance more often among men.ConclusionThis study highlights areas where adolescents with disabilities are falling behind their peers in terms of personal well-being. These findings suggest that interventions may be needed to mainstream disability in programmes and policies aiming to improve well-being, mental health and violence prevention among adolescents.Trial registration numberPan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR201804003008116).

Caregivers' perspectives of community acceptance before and after surgical treatment for their child's disability

“…Moreover, those with disabilities in Tanzania often have limited knowledge of services available for treating their condition or live in rural areas where services are inaccessible. Children with disabilities are less likely to attend school; adolescents with disabilities are more likely to report poorer health status, symptoms of depression, emotional abuse, and physical violence; and adults with disabilities are less likely to be literate or married (Kuper et al, 2015; Quinones et al, 2021). Individuals with disabilities also face additional obstacles to employment, including negative attitudes, barriers to transportation, and health challenges (Morwane et al, 2021).…”

Access to healthcare for people with physical disability in Tanzania: a case of Singida rural district, Singida-Tanzania

“…A similar study on disability status and multi-dimensional personal well-being among adolescents in the southern highlands region of Tanzania reported that access to healthcare services for PWPDs continued to be a challenge in the rural area. However, the Tanzanian government has to increase its budget by 35% to rescue the situation (Quinones et al, 2021). Factors that hinder the availability of appropriate healthcare for PWPDs are unaffordability of healthcare and high transport costs, inadequate drugs or equipment, and inadequate skills of healthcare providers (Greenwood et al, 2016b).…”