The prevalence of physical disability: preliminary results of a Wellington survey

To estimate the number of physically disabled persons in Wellington a 10 percent random sample of households and institutions in the Wellington Hospital Board area was surveyed. There was a high response rate and from the results it has been established that the overall prevalence of physical disability in the population aged five years and over is 87.3 (+/- 4.2) per 1000. For persons living in the community (that is, excluding those in residential or hospital care) the rate of disability is 82.7 (+/- 3.5) per 1000. The rate of handicapping disability in the community is 41.3 (+/- 2.5) per 1000. The main disabling conditions most frequently reported were arthritis and deafness.