Prevalence of motor impairment and disability in a rural community in KwaZulu.

A study to measure the prevalence of motor disability and impairment using an interview survey and a follow-up medical examination has been carried out in a rural area in KwaZulu, South Africa. A 10% random cluster sample yielded 1659 individuals of all ages. One hundred and forty-three were reported to have motor disability, giving a crude motor disability rate of 86/1000. One hundred and twenty-six were followed up and 86 had demonstrable impairment, giving a crude motor impairment rate of 52/1000. The commonest impairment was osteoarthritis of the hips (20/1000) which may be the same disease as has been reported in neighbouring areas and to which the name Mseleni joint disease (MJD) has been applied.