People with Disability
Summary
People with disability encompass a diverse group whose impairments—whether physical, sensory, cognitive or psychosocial—interact with environmental, economic and attitudinal barriers to limit full participation in society. Worldwide, such barriers include inaccessible infrastructure, prohibitive costs, gaps in tailored information and stigma among providers and communities. These challenges are compounded by intersecting factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status and geographic location. International frameworks, notably the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals, call for inclusive, rights-based approaches. Progress relies on systematic data collection, meaningful engagement of disabled individuals in policy and research, universal design principles, and workforce training in respectful, person-centred care. Emerging technologies, from digital health platforms to assistive devices, offer new avenues for autonomy and integration, while equity-focused assessments and universal health coverage remain central to achieving health justice and social inclusion for people with disabilities.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent analyses in Bangladesh have quantified the burden and drivers of comorbidity among adults with disabilities, revealing that nearly half experience at least one chronic condition such as hypertension or heart disease, with higher risk observed in women, those with more education and individuals from wealthier households. Complementary work in the same national survey assessed timely access to healthcare services, finding that one-quarter of respondents lacked needed care within three months, primarily due to cost, limited family support and facility shortages, and demonstrating that higher household wealth and regional factors improve service uptake. A nationwide population-based study in South Korea compared perinatal outcomes in women with and without disabilities, documenting elevated risks of caesarean section, hypertensive disorders and preterm birth across disability types and severities and underscoring the importance of tailored obstetric care pathways.
People with Disability publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in people with disability across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Structural ableism: Systemic discrimination in policies, practices and social norms that perpetuates disadvantage for people with disabilities.
Disability-inclusive health system: A health system designed to anticipate, accept and accommodate the needs of people with disabilities, ensuring equitable access to services.
Comorbidity: The presence of one or more additional chronic health conditions co-occurring with a primary impairment.
Universal design: A design philosophy seeking to create products and environments usable by all people to the greatest extent possible without adaptation.
References
- A Systematic Review of Access to General Healthcare Services for People with Disabilities in Low and Middle Income Countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2018).
- Building disability-inclusive health systems. The Lancet Public Health (2024).
- Prevalence and patterns of comorbidities in people with disabilities and their associated socio-demographic factors. Scientific Reports (2024).
- Healthcare services access challenges and determinants among persons with disabilities in Bangladesh. Scientific Reports (2024).
- Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of women with disabilities: a nationwide population-based study in South Korea. Scientific Reports (2020).
About these summaries
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