Prevalence of disability among elderly persons in Latin American cities and its correlates

Laura R. Wong, Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional (CEDEPLAR)
Martha Pelaez, PAHO

Disability among elderly population (EP) in four Latin American cities is analyzed. Studies about disability are necessary in designing programs targeting disability among future EP. Around 20% of EP has at least one disability. Women are more likely to have disabilities than men; significant values are found in extended families which might be a strategy to provide care. Disability and education are inversely associated, which indicates degree of health care affordability. This is an important finding since public care for disable people is not always available. Simulations produce a conservative estimate for Latin America of about 9.7 million EP in 2005 in need of social and medical care for performing ADLs. By 2025 at least 20 million EP will have at least one ADL