Livelihood opportunities amongst adults with and without disabilities in Cameroon and India: A case control study

PLoS One. 2018 Apr 9;13(4):e0194105. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194105. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Proven links between disability and poverty suggest that development programmes and policies that are not disability-inclusive will leave persons with disabilities behind. Despite this, there is limited quantitative evidence on livelihood opportunities amongst adults with disabilities in Low and Middle Income Countries. This study adds to the limited evidence base, contributing data from one African and one Asian Setting. We undertook a population-based case-control study of adults (18+) with and without disabilities in North-West Cameroon and in Telangana State, India. We found that adults with disabilities were five times less likely to be working compared to age-sex matched controls in both settings. Amongst adults with disabilities, current age, marital status and disability type were key predictors of working. Inclusive programmes are therefore needed to provide adequate opportunities to participate in livelihood prospects for adults with disabilities in Cameroon and India, on an equal basis as others. These findings are of crucial importance at this stage of the Sustainable Development Agenda, to ensure that the mandate of inclusive development is achieved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Cameroon
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Disabled Persons*
  • Employment*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • India
  • Male
  • Marital Status
  • Middle Aged
  • Poverty*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was funded by CBM International (www.cbm.org) under Project Number 2058-2012 Code 06.05. The funder did not have any role in study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing the manuscript or the decision to submit the article for publication.