Abstract

OBANDO-ANTE, Leidy M.; LASSO-BENAVIDES, Adriana E.  and  VERNAZA-PINZON, Paola. Disability in a displaced population in Cauca, Colombia. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2006, vol.8, n.2, pp. 182-190. ISSN 0124-0064.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0124-00642006000200006.

OBJECTIVE: Estimating the prevalence of disability in a displaced Colombian population. METHODS: A descriptive prevalence study was carried out amongst 165 displaced families in the city of Popayán, Cauca, Colombia between June and December 2003. The information was collected via a questionnaire regarding socio-demographic and biological variables. RESULTS: There was 8.5 % disability in the population being studied. Regarding the type of disability 5.6 %, 0.7 % and 1.2 % prevalence was found for physical, sensory and mental disability, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Being disabled, added to that of being displaced, has become a public health problem as it affects a large group of individuals and families and also has a negative impact on society by affecting the productivity and development of human resources.

Keywords : Violence; disabled person; public health; Colombia.