Disability and its sociodemographic correlates among older people in Nepal: evidence from the 2022 Nepal Demographic Health Survey

BackgroundOlder people are more vulnerable and have a higher risk of having a disability. There are very few studies on disability among older people in Nepal. To fill this knowledge and research gap, this study examines the prevalence and analyzes sociodemographic correlates of disability among older people in Nepal.MethodsThe 2022 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey data was used for this study. The study included 3014 older people aged 60 years and above. The Washington Group Short Set Questions were used to measure disability. Disability was categorized as 'with disability' and 'without disability'. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the prevalence of disability while multivariate logistic regression was used as inferential statistics to analyze sociodemographic correlates of disability.ResultsThe results show that more than a quarter (27%) of older people had disabilities. The prevalence of disability was higher among older people aged 80 years and above (54%), females (31%), no education (31%), widowed (40%), residing in Karnali province (39%), and those who belonged to poor household wealth (31%). This pattern was consistent in both older males and females. Older people aged 70-79 or 80 years and above, those who had no education or primary education and who were widowed, were more likely to have a disability. Older people from rich household wealth and from Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpashchim provinces were less likely to have a disability.ConclusionsThe burden of disability among older people in Nepal is considerable. Therefore, there is a need for health interventions targeting the identified groups at risk of disability to improve the well-being of older people.