Citation

Disler PB, Jacka E, Sayed AR, Rip MR, Hurford S, Collis P. S. Afr. Med. J. 1986; 69(6): 355-357.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, South African Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2938280

Abstract

A door-to-door survey to identify the locomotor-disabled was carried out on 24.2% of the population living in a white middle-class residential area of the Cape Peninsula (2391 people). This coastal resort is a popular place for retirement and has a large elderly population (23.3%). The prevalence rate of locomotor disability was 13/1000. Illness caused 74.2% of the disability, and in 34.5% of cases this was identified as arthritis. Most of the disabled were aged 60 years or more (77.4%), while 22.6% were 16-59 years old. Fifty per cent of those in the working-age group were employed; one-third competed in the open labour market and the rest were in sheltered employment. Few people were in contact with health, geriatric or social services.

Language: en