Over 6,500 people in Kurigram and Narsingdi districts of Bangladesh were surveyed to determine the prevalence of disability and related needs. The survey found that the disability prevalence for adults was 4.4% in Kurigram and 4.0% in Narsingdi, with the most common difficulties being psychological distress and mobility. Over half of respondents in Kurigram and over 30% in Narsingdi who reported sensory, physical, communication or cognitive difficulties also reported psychological distress. Adults with disabilities in both districts reported higher unmet needs for health, work, community participation and social activities compared to those without disabilities. Among children, the only significant difference in unmet needs was for healthcare. Lack of services and information were commonly

1. 3rd
World Disability & Rehabilitation Conference 2018
Page | 7
A1 [01]
DISABILITY PREVALENCE & UNMET NEEDS FOR SERVICES: A RAPID
ASSESSMENT OF DISABILITY IN KURIGRAM AND NARSINGDI,
BANGLADESH
F.A Jalal1
, M. G Mostofa1
, M. M Haque1
, M. Marella2
, R. Chakraborty1
and W. Pryor2
1
Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion, Bangladesh
2
Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia
ABSTRACT
Over 6,500 adults and children above 2 years old were surveyed to determine the prevalence and
correlates of disability in Kurigram and Narsingdi districts of Bangladesh. In partnership with
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and local DPOs, the survey used a Rapid Assessment of Disability
(RAD), including the Washington Group Short Set of Disability Questions. Disability prevalence for
adults was 4.4% in Kurigram and 4.0% in Narsingdi. The most commonly reported difficulties for
adults were psychological distress (3.0% in Kurigram and 2.1% in Narsingdi) and mobility difficulties
(2.4% in Kurigram and 2.2% in Narsingdi). Over 50% of respondents in Kurigram and over 30% in
Narsingdi who reported sensory, physical, communication or cognitive difficulties also reported
psychological distress. Disability prevalence for 2-4 year-old children was 1.7% and 1.1% and for 5-
17 year-olds was 1.9% and 1.2% in Kurigram and Narsingdi respectively. Adults from both districts
had higher unmet needs for health, work, community consultations and social activities compared to
age and sex matched controls. Among children with and without disabilities, differences in unmet
need was only significant for health care. Lack of services and information were the most commonly
reported barrier for accessing services by people with and without disabilities. Location-dependent
estimates of barriers to services for PWDs and matched controls offer a method for evidence based
inclusive development practice. Findings highlight important local and age differences in exclusion
from social activities, which have important implications for inclusive development programming and
specific services in Bangladesh.
Keywords: Rapid assessment, Disability, Bangladesh