| Literature DB >> 30567357 |
Wesley Pryor1, Liem Nguyen2, Qumrun Naher Islam3, Faruk Ahmed Jalal4, Manjula Marella5.
Abstract
Access to assistive products (AP) is an under-researched public health issue. Using an adaptation of a draft World Health Organization tool-the 'Assistive Technology Assessment-Needs (ATA-N)' for measuring unmet needs and use of AP, we aimed to understand characteristics of AP users, self-reported needs and unmet needs for AP, and current access patterns in Bangladesh. The ATA-N was incorporated in a Rapid Assessment of Disability (RAD), a population-based survey to estimate prevalence and correlates of disability. In each of two unions of Kurigram and Narsingdi districts, 60 clusters of 50 people each aged two years and older were selected using a two-staged cluster random sampling process, of whom, 4250 (59% Female; 41% Male) were adults, including 333 using AP. We estimate 7.1% of the studied population used any AP. AP use is positively associated with age and self-reported functional difficulty. The proportion of people using AP is higher for mobility than for sensory and cognitive difficulties. Of all people with any functional difficulty, 71% self-reported an unmet need for AP. Most products were home or self-made, at low cost, but provided benefits. Needs and unmet needs for AP are high, especially for people with greater functional difficulties. Assessing unmet needs for AP revealed important barriers to scale that can inform policy and practice.Entities:
Keywords: Bangladesh; LMIC; assistive products; assistive technology; disability
Mesh:
Year: 2018 PMID: 30567357 PMCID: PMC6313454 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15122901
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health ISSN: 1660-4601 Impact factor: 3.390
Characteristics of assistive products (AP) users and non-users.
| Characteristics | AP Users | AP Non-Users | All (User + Non-User) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | No Difficulty | All AP Users | Difficulty | No Difficulty | All AP Non-Users | ||
| Level of difficulties | |||||||
| None | 44.6% | 70.9% | 69.0% | ||||
| Some | 37.6% | 26.2% | 27.1% | ||||
| A lot | 11.1% | 2.1% | 2.7% | ||||
| Cannot do | 6.7% | 0.8% | 1.2% | ||||
| Age | |||||||
| Mean | 58.1 | 41.1 | 50.5 | 46.2 | 33.1 | 36.9 | 37.9 |
| Sex | |||||||
| Female | 61.3% | 60.3% | 60.9% | 64.2% | 56.8% | 59.0% | 59.1% |
| Male | 38.7% | 39.7% | 39.1% | 35.8% | 43.2% | 41.0% | 40.9% |
| School attendance | |||||||
| Never attended | 43.4% | 11.3% | 29.1% | 57.6% | 26.8% | 35.7% | 35.3% |
| Ever attended | 56.6% | 88.7% | 70.9% | 42.4% | 73.2% | 64.3% | 64.7% |
| Working status | |||||||
| Not working | 80.6% | 66.4% | 74.3% | 69.0% | 64.2% | 65.6% | 66.2% |
| Working | 19.4% | 33.6% | 25.7% | 31.0% | 35.8% | 34.4% | 33.8% |
| District | |||||||
| Kurigram | 46.0% | 34.7% | 40.9% | 61.1% | 48.0% | 51.8% | 51.0% |
| Narsingdi | 54.0% | 65.3% | 59.1% | 38.9% | 52.0% | 48.2% | 49.0% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
|
| 97,629 | 78,710 | 176,339 | 671,903 | 1,635,387 | 2,307,290 | 2,483,629 |
|
| 189 | 144 | 333 | 1167 | 2753 | 3920 | 4253 |
Note: n is the sample size that was used for analysis; N is the population size (weighted and adjusted for complex survey design). ‘Difficulty’ is any difficulty: ‘some’, ‘a lot’, or ‘cannot do at all’.).
Factors associated with the use of assistive products.
| Characteristics | Odds Ratio | 95% CI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level of difficulties | |||
| None (ref.) | 1 | ||
| Some | 2.11 | ** | 1.59–2.83 |
| A lot | 6.73 | ** | 3.83–11.86 |
| Cannot do at all | 11.03 | ** | 5.67–21.44 |
| Age | |||
| Youth (18–24 years-old) (ref.) | 1 | ||
| Older adults (25–59 years-old) | 2.74 | ** | 1.71–4.41 |
| Elderly (60+ years-old) | 7.52 | ** | 4.18–13.55 |
| Sex | |||
| Female (ref.) | 1 | ||
| Male | 1.00 | 0.68–1.48 | |
| School attendance | |||
| Never attended (ref.) | 1 | ||
| Ever attended | 2.92 | ** | 2.08–4.10 |
| Working status | |||
| Not working (ref.) | 1 | ||
| Working | 0.71 | 0.47–1.07 | |
| District of residence | |||
| Kurigram (ref.) | 1 | ||
| Narsingdi | 1.47 | * | 1.08–2.00 |
| Constant | 0.01 | ** | 0.00–0.01 |
|
| 2,483,629 | ||
|
| 4253 | ||
Note: Logistic regression was used to predict the use of assistive product: 1 = Using an assistive product; 0 = Not using an assistive product; * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01. ref. = reference group.
Figure 1Proportion of population using assistive products (AP) among those who self-reported at least some functional difficulty (number using product, % of people reporting using AP to mitigate a difficulty in that domain); reflects use of products in more than one domain (n = 6).
Figure 2AP used by 112 persons with any difficulty in any domain. Unknown products are where participants identified any ‘other’ device for any domain but no further information was provided.
Unadjusted percentage of people reporting unmet needs and factors associated with self-reported unmet needs.
| Characteristics | % Reporting Unmet Needs | OR | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level of difficulties | |||
| Some | 67.9% | 1 | 0.71–7.05 |
| A lot | 83.4% | 2.24 | 0.20–2.64 |
| Cannot do | 60.2% | 0.73 | |
| Currently using AP | |||
| No | 68.2% | 1 | 1.52–15.30 |
| Yes | 88.3% | 4.82 ** | |
| Age group | |||
| Youth (18–24 years-old) | 77.6% | 1 | 0.22–1.96 |
| Older adults (25–59 years-old) | 67.1% | 0.65 | 0.32–3.42 |
| Elderly (60+ years-old) | 80.7% | 1.04 | |
| Sex | |||
| Female | 74.9% | 1 | 0.20–1.31 |
| Male | 74.4% | 0.51 | |
| School attendance | |||
| Never attended | 76.6% | 1 | 0.30–1.80 |
| Ever attended | 71.1% | 0.73 | |
| Working status | |||
| Not working | 71.4% | 1 | |
| Working | 86.2% | 5.71 * | 1.30–25.16 |
| District of residence | |||
| Kurigram | 85.0% | 1 | |
| Narsingdi | 59.4% | 0.34 * | 0.13–0.89 |
| All | 74.7% | ||
| Constant | 9.32 | 0.95–91.41 | |
|
| 96,815 | ||
|
| 180 |
Note: ** Significant difference at p < 0.01; * Significant difference at p < 0.10.
Figure 3Reasons for not using AP in people with a self-reported unmet need
Summary of WHO APA-Needs questions and skip logic as used adapted for use in the current survey.
| Level | Section | Questions | Skip Pattern | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVEL 1—(short version) Need and unmet need | A—Personal details | 1–10 | Sociodemographic characteristics | |
| B—Met and unmet need | ||||
| WG-extended set (example here for walking or climbing steps) | 11 | In the last 6 months, have you had difficulties WALKING or CLIMBING STEPS?0—no difficulty; 1—some difficulty; 2—a lot of difficulty; 3—cannot do at all | If “0”, go to next function Q; If“2–4”, go to Q12 | |
| 12 | Do you use any assistive products to: support you in standing, sitting or lyingor move around inside or outside the house or manage other mobility difficulties | If YES, go to Q13; If NO, go to Q15 | ||
| 13 | Which ones do you use? | Go to Q14 | ||
| 14 | Do you need any other products to assist you in these activities? For example: [show corresponding card/s] | If YES, go to Q16; If NO, go to Q17 | ||
| 15 | Do you think you might benefit from any assistive products to assist you in these activities? For example: [show corresponding card/s] | If YES, go to Q16; If NO, go to Q17 | ||
| 16 | Which ones do you need? | Go to Q17 | ||
| LEVEL 2—(Full version)—Product procurement, performance, use, services, impact; abandonment, barriers | C—AP in use (Repeat for all products reported as used in section B) | |||
| Procurement | 48 | Where did you get the [name of product/s from section B]? | ||
| 49 | Approximately how much did you pay for [the product]? | |||
| 50 | How far did you have to travel to get [the product]? | |||
| 51 | How long have you been using the assistive product? | |||
| 52 | If the device was lost or broken, are you confident you could easily replace it? | |||
| 53 | When you first got [the product] was it new or had it already been used (second-hand)? | |||
| Performance | 54 | Does [the product] meet your needs? (does it do everything that you want it to do?) | ||
| 55 | In what condition is [the product]? | |||
| 56 | What kind of problems have you had with the assistive product? | |||
| 57 | In which way do you think [the product] could be better? (what, if anything would you like to change about it?) | |||
| Use | 58 | In the typical day, how many hours do you use [the product]? | ||
| 59 | How easy is it for you to use [the product] within your home? | |||
| 60 | How easy is it for you to use [the product] outside home? | |||
| 61 | Do you need any assistance to set up [the product] before using it? | |||
| 62 | After set-up, do you need any assistance to use [the product]? | |||
| Services | 63 | Was [the product] prescribed for you following an assessment (i.e. looking at you/asking you questions/taking measures)? If yes, by whom? | ||
| 64 | Was [the product] fitted to you or customized to your needs? If yes, by whom? | |||
| 65 | Have you received any training on how to use and take care of [the product]? If yes, from whom? | |||
| 66 | If there is something wrong with [the product] is there somewhere you can go for repairs or maintenance? | |||
| Impact | 67 | How important is [the product] for you to do your work or go to school? | ||
| 68 | How important is [the product] for you to participate in social events and be an active member of your community? | |||
| 69 | How important is [the product] to your health? | |||
| 70 | How important is [the product] to your enjoyment or life? | |||
| Section D—Abandonment & Barriers | ||||
| Abandonment | 71 | Have you used an assistive product like [the product] in the past? | YES→ Q72; NO→Q76 | |
| 72 | Do you have an assistive product like [the product] that you no longer use? | YES→ Q73; NO→Q76 | ||
| 73 | How long have you had [product no longer in use]? | |||
| 74 | Is [product no longer in use] in working condition? | YES→Q75; NO→Q76 | ||
| 75 | Why are you no longer using [product no longer in use]? | |||
| Barriers | 76 | You told me that you do not use assistive products that could help you. What stops you from using them? | ||