Summary
This report provides Australian prevalence estimates of five main disability groups: intellectual, psychiatric, sensory/speech, acquired brain injury and physical/diverse. The groups are explained and defined in terms of Australian and international definitions of disability, and of available Australian data. The report updates and expands on three previous reports (on intellectual disability, physical disability and acquired brain injury) to provide a complete picture in terms of the five groups. The report also reviews recent trends (1981 to 1998) in the prevalence of disability and chronic conditions, and analyses changes in population patterns of disability prevalence in Australia.
This report provides Australian prevalence estimates of five main disability groups: intellectual, psychiatric, sensory/speech, acquired brain injury and physical/diverse. The groups are explained and defined in terms of Australian and international definitions of disability, and of available Australian data. The report updates and expands on three previous reports (on intellectual disability, physical disability and acquired brain injury) to provide a complete picture in terms of the five groups. The report also reviews recent trends (1981 to 1998) in the prevalence of disability and chronic conditions, and analyses changes in population patterns of disability prevalence in Australia.
Preliminary material: List of tables; List of figures; Boxes; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Glossary
1. Introduction
2. Defining and estimating disability prevalence
- Definition and conceptual approaches
- Operational definitions and analytical approaches
- Main data sources
- The four approaches to prevalence estimates
3. Intellectual disability
- A brief overview of existing definitions and estimates of prevalence
- Patterns of prevalence of intellectual disability - a review
- Estimates of prevalence of intellectual disability in Australia
- Patterns of prevalence of intellectual disability in Australia
4. Psychiatric disability
- A brief overview of existing definitions and estimates of prevalence
- Estimates of prevalence of psychiatric disability in Australia
- Patterns of psychiatric disability in Australia
5. Sensory/speech disability
- A brief overview of existing definitions and estimates of prevalence
- Estimates of prevalence of sensory/speech disability in Australia
- Patterns of prevalence of sensory/speech disability in Australia
6. Acquired brain injury
- A brief overview of existing definitions and estimates of prevalence
- Estimates of prevalence of ABI in Australia
- Patterns of ABI-related disability in Australia
- ABI-related hospital separations in 2000-01
7. Physical/diverse disability
- A brief overview of existing definitions and estimates of prevalence
- Prevalence estimates of physical/diverse disability in Australia
- Patterns of physical/diverse disability in Australia
8. Trends in disability prevalence
- Introduction
- Changes in mortality and morbidity, and their impact on disability
- Trends in population patterns of disability prevalence in Australia
Appendixes
Appendix 1: Grouping of disabling conditions for estimating main disability groups in Australia, using the 1998 ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers confidentialised unit record file (CURF)
Appendix 2: ABS 1998 disability survey questions on activity limitations, participation restrictions and need for assistance
Appendix 3: Appendix tables
End matter: References