The Prevalence and Correlates of Disability in Singapore: Results from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Objective: The study aims to estimate the prevalence of disability and the association of disability with socio-demographic correlates and health outcomes among the Singapore population. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a representative sample of Singapore’s population. Using the Washington Group’s questionnaire, disability was defined using both the ‘standard’ (a lot of difficulty or higher in one or more domains) and the ‘wider’ threshold (of ‘some’ or greater difficulty). Data on socio-demographic correlates, self-reported lifestyle, physical activity, chronic conditions, and health-related quality of life were also collected. Results: The prevalence of any disability using the standard threshold was 3.1% (95% CI: 2.4–4.1). When separated by disability type, mobility (1.8%) was the most prevalent, followed by vision (0.8%), cognition (0.5%), hearing (0.3%), and self-care (0.2). In the adjusted regression analysis, lower education and unemployed and economically inactive status (versus employed) were significantly associated with disability. Conclusions: Although this prevalence is lower than other countries, it is a significant finding in terms of actual numbers and impact at both the individual and the societal levels. Our findings also highlight the need to strengthen health services and preventive interventions targeting older adults and those who are physically inactive to reduce the burden of disability in these groups.