Impairment and Functional Status of People with Disabilities Following Nepal Earthquake 2015

Background An earthquake of 7.8 magnitude with an epicenter at Gorkha on 25th April 2015 and a second earthquake of 6.5 magnitude with an epicenter at Sindhupalchwok on 12th May 2015 struck Nepal, killing more than 8,500 people and injuring over 18,500 individuals, and leading to various forms of disabilities. Objective To investigate the impairments and functional status of the earthquake victims through a survey. Method A survey was carried out in the catchment area of Bahunepati and Manekharka outreach centers of Sindhupalchowk district and Gaurishankar outreach center of Dolakha district of Dhulikhel Hospital. These were some of the most earthquake affected areas. Physical disability was identified using a disability survey form given by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Government of Nepal. World health organization disability assessment schedule (WHODAS 2.0) was used to identify the level of disability. Result Twenty-nine persons with disability (PWD) at Bahunepati, four PWD at Manekharkha and two PWD at Gaurishankar and their catchment areas were identified. Level of disability was an average of 56%, with the majority of survivors having upper extremities fractures (27.6%), followed by lower extremities fractures (17.2%) and miscellaneous injury (17.2%). A few spinal cord injuries and head injuries were also identified. Conclusion The level of disability among the injured people was high. Therefore, an urgent need of physiotherapy rehabilitation is warranted to improve the quality of life of the earthquake victims.