Regional Disparities of Rehabilitation Resources for Persons with Disabilities in China: Data from 2014 to 2019

Abstract

Although the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities enshrines the right to health for all persons with disabilities (PDs), PDs face health disparities in terms of access to rehabilitation resources, which is important for service supply. This study aimed to explore the trends and distribution of rehabilitation resources for PDs in China from 2014 to 2019, explore the main factors that influence equity, and provide suggestions for policymakers. Data were obtained from the annual China Statistical Bulletin on the Development of Disabled Persons and the database of the China Disabled Persons' Federation. Six types of rehabilitation resources were chosen to measure the trends in allocation and equity. Data on disparities were analyzed based on western, central, and eastern regions. The Health Resource Density Index and Theil Index were calculated to determine the degree and density of unfairness. The findings show a steady increasing trend in the amount of rehabilitation resources in China from 2014 to 2019. The density and equity of allocation of rehabilitation resources have improved greatly in recent years. Regional disparities were principally caused by differences within the regions. Suggestions including expanding investment in rehabilitation resources and developing rehabilitation systems were put forward.

Keywords: China; HRDI; Theil Index; disability; disparity; rehabilitation resource.

Figure 1

The regional Theil Index trends of six types of rehabilitation resources (which showed from (a) to (f) respectively) in China from 2016 to 2018. (a) Theil index values of RIs for PDs from 2016 to 2018 in the three regions; (b) Theil index values of staffs in RIs for PDs from 2016 to 2018 in the three regions; (c) Theil index values of professionals in RIs for PDs from 2016 to 2018 in the three regions; (d) Theil index values of completed Projects on RSFs for PDs from 2017 to 2018 in the three regions; (e) Theil index values of construction area of completed projects on RSFs from 2017 to 2018 in the three regions; (f) Theil index values of total investment of completed projects on RSFs from 2017 to 2018 in the three regions.