Purpose: Global population growth and increasing longevity means that the need for Assistive Technology (AT) will continue to increase. The level of unmet need for AT is greatest in low-income settings. The aim of this study is to identify age-related increase in impairment and to estimate the AT needs.
Materials and methods: We analysed secondary data from the 2018 Malawi Population and Housing Census (MPHC) based on the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG) short-set of questions.
Results: Out of the 1,556,670 persons with one or more functional limitations or disabilities identified in the census, self-reported difficulties in all domains were markedly higher from age 40 and above. The proportion reporting one functional limitation is higher compared to two or more limitations, but at age 78-80 the proportion reporting two or more functional limitations increased above those reporting one functional limitation. Although 60.9% (60.7-61.0) and 63.5% (63.3-63.6) of those who reported difficulty in seeing and hearing were using glasses and hearing aids respectively, the estimated total need for glasses and hearing aids in this group was 98.9% (98.0-99.0) and 98.4% (98.3-98.5) respectively. The unmet need for glasses and hearing aids were therefore 38.1% and 34.9% respectively.
Conclusion: The differential slope of impairment curves against age is a guide to the increasing demand for AT across the life course and across different domains of functioning. Country specific analysis of impairment across age and domains is essential to understand and plan for the growing need for AT globally.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONIt is important to estimate and plan for impairment across life course to address the age-related increase in impairment and the increasing need for AT with age.The Zomba curves show the cumulative nature of impairment with age and the need for age and need specific provision of AT across the life course through proactive policy level actions.The significant high unmet need for glasses and hearing aids attests to similar need for other assistive products and the need for setting specific interventions to address needs of affected persons.The differential slope of impairment curves against age is a guide to the differing and increasing demand for assistive technology across the life course and across different domains of functioning.
Keywords: Assistive technology; Zomba curves; assistive products estimation; life course approach.