title: Characterizing disability at the Iganga-Mayuge Demographic Surveillance System (IM-DSS), Uganda.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a need to better measure disability as an outcome to understand the magnitude of the problem and its impact on health and socio-economic status. The aim of this study was to characterize the physical disabilities present at the Iganga-Mayuge Demographic Surveillance Site (IM-DSS) in Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  WHODAS 2.0 was used to examine the consequences of disability on activity limitations and participation in society. One thousand five hundred and fourteen individuals over the age of 18 at the IM-DSS with previously identified physical disabilities were included. Total and domain scores were calculated, and regression analyses examined differences by age, sex, education, occupation and SES.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean total score was 40.72. Domain 2 - getting around, had the highest mean score (57.21), followed by household activities (55.18). Domains 5.2 (work/school activities) and 6 (participation in society) also had relatively high mean scores - 47.71 and 49.44, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study serves as an indication of what the major limitations are among individuals in rural Uganda with physical disabilities. In general, individuals with disabilities had the most trouble on getting around, life activities and participation in society. This can guide public health planners and policy-makers on priorities to ameliorate the impact of disabilities in this population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that in general, individuals with disabilities had the most trouble on getting around, life activities and participation in society. This can guide public health planners and policy-makers on rehabilitation priorities to ameliorate the impact of disabilities in this population. Efforts can be made to develop and implement rehabilitation programs that cater to the needs of vulnerable populations including females and older individuals. Programs that focus on education and employment for physically disabled individuals ought to be given priority. These could include legislative changes, and modification of the physical environment, among others.
authors.affiliation: a International Injury Research Unit, Health Systems Program, Department of International Health , Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , MD , USA .
authors.forename: Abdulgafoor M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bachani
authors.affiliation: b Iganga-Mayuge Demographic Surveillance System, Makerere University School of Public Health , Iganga , Uganda .
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galiwango
authors.affiliation: b Iganga-Mayuge Demographic Surveillance System, Makerere University School of Public Health , Iganga , Uganda .
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kadobera
authors.affiliation: c Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA , and.
authors.forename: Jacob A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.affiliation: d Department of Population , Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , MD , USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bishai
authors.affiliation: d Department of Population , Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wegener
authors.affiliation: a International Injury Research Unit, Health Systems Program, Department of International Health , Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , MD , USA .
authors.forename: Nukhba
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zia
authors.affiliation: a International Injury Research Unit, Health Systems Program, Department of International Health , Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , MD , USA .
authors.forename: Adnan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hyder
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D058992:Social Participation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Disability; Uganda; WHODAS; morbidity measure; self-rated health