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

Abstract Background Older 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...

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Main Authors: Naba Raj Thapa, Govind Subedi, Vikash Kumar KC
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21672-0
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author Naba Raj Thapa
Govind Subedi
Vikash Kumar KC
author_facet Naba Raj Thapa
Govind Subedi
Vikash Kumar KC
author_sort Naba Raj Thapa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Older 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. Methods The 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. Results The 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. Conclusions The 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.
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spelling doaj-art-c619b8b01897421c8cf6fbd26096ddca2025-08-20T02:15:07ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-02-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-21672-0Disability and its sociodemographic correlates among older people in Nepal: evidence from the 2022 Nepal Demographic Health SurveyNaba Raj Thapa0Govind Subedi1Vikash Kumar KC2Department of Population Studies, Ratna Rajyalaxmi Campus, Tribhuvan UniversityTribhuvan UniversityPrithvi Narayan Campus, Tribhuvan UniversityAbstract Background Older 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. Methods The 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. Results The 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. Conclusions The 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21672-0CorrelatesDisabilityNepal Demographic Health SurveyOlder peoplePrevalence
spellingShingle Naba Raj Thapa
Govind Subedi
Vikash Kumar KC
Disability and its sociodemographic correlates among older people in Nepal: evidence from the 2022 Nepal Demographic Health Survey
BMC Public Health
Correlates
Disability
Nepal Demographic Health Survey
Older people
Prevalence
title Disability and its sociodemographic correlates among older people in Nepal: evidence from the 2022 Nepal Demographic Health Survey
title_full Disability and its sociodemographic correlates among older people in Nepal: evidence from the 2022 Nepal Demographic Health Survey
title_fullStr Disability and its sociodemographic correlates among older people in Nepal: evidence from the 2022 Nepal Demographic Health Survey
title_full_unstemmed Disability and its sociodemographic correlates among older people in Nepal: evidence from the 2022 Nepal Demographic Health Survey
title_short Disability and its sociodemographic correlates among older people in Nepal: evidence from the 2022 Nepal Demographic Health Survey
title_sort disability and its sociodemographic correlates among older people in nepal evidence from the 2022 nepal demographic health survey
topic Correlates
Disability
Nepal Demographic Health Survey
Older people
Prevalence
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21672-0
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