2011年-世界发展银行全球_Disability_and_Poverty_in_Vietnam_37页_202kb

Summary of "Disability and Poverty in Vietnam"

Core Content

This article explores the relationship between disability and poverty in Vietnam, emphasizing that disability significantly increases the risk of poverty. It highlights the importance of considering the extra costs associated with living with a disability when analyzing poverty statistics, as these costs are often overlooked and can lead to an underestimation of the true impact of disability on economic well-being. The study uses data from the 2006 Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey (VHLSS), which is noted for its high-quality disability data aligned with international standards.

Main Viewpoints

• Disability and Poverty Link: Disability is strongly correlated with poverty in Vietnam, with a poverty rate of 16.4% for people with disabilities compared to 13.5% for the general population.
• Extra Costs of Disability: The poverty line does not account for the additional costs faced by people with disabilities, such as health services, assistive devices, and transportation, which can significantly affect their standard of living.
• Educational Attainment: Lower educational attainment is a key factor in the disability-poverty link, as it limits economic opportunities and productivity.
• Disability Measurement: The study uses the Washington Group's recommended questions to measure disability, focusing on functional limitations rather than medical conditions.
• Two Thresholds for Disability: The analysis uses two thresholds—DISLOW and DISHIGH—to account for varying degrees of disability and reduce self-reporting bias.

Key Information

Disability Definitions and Thresholds

• DISLOW: Defined as having some difficulty in at least two of the six functional domains or considerable difficulty in one or more. This threshold is more inclusive and captures a broader range of disabilities.
• DISHIGH: Defined as having considerable difficulty in at least one of the six functional domains. This is a more restrictive measure, capturing only severe disabilities.
• The study also considers the impact of excluding minor vision problems, as they may not be indicative of true disability.

Survey Details

• The 2006 VHLSS surveyed 9,189 households and 39,071 individuals.
• Disability data were collected for people aged 5 and older (36,701 individuals).
• The survey used a stratified random cluster sampling method, ensuring representativeness across rural and urban areas and eight geographic regions.

Disability Prevalence

• Overall disability rate: 15.7%, based on the Washington Group's threshold.
• DISLOW prevalence: 7.56%, which includes people with minor vision difficulties.
• DISHIGH prevalence: 3.6%, representing more severe disabilities.
• Blindness: 0.22% of the population.
• Low vision: 11.14% of the population.

Age and Gender Patterns

• Age distribution:
  • 5-18 years: 4.29% of people report functional difficulties.
  • 19-40 years: 5.03%.
  • 41-62 years: 25.31%.
  • Over 62 years: 66.84%.
• Gender differences:
  • Females have a slightly higher disability rate than males.
  • The disability rate increases with age, especially for those over 62.
• Urban vs. Rural:
  • Urban areas show slightly higher disability prevalence under both thresholds.
  • Rural areas have lower rates, but still significant.

Implications

• Underestimation of Disability: The current survey methodology may undercount people with psychological disabilities and those with mild or moderate functional limitations.
• Policy Relevance: Recognizing the extra costs of disability and using more accurate measures can improve the targeting of poverty reduction efforts.
• Capabilities Approach: Amartya Sen's capabilities approach underscores that poverty is not just a lack of income but also a lack of ability to achieve a minimum standard of living, which is particularly relevant for people with disabilities.

Conclusion

The study concludes that disability significantly contributes to poverty in Vietnam, and the use of appropriate measurement thresholds and consideration of additional costs is essential for accurate poverty assessment and effective policy design. It emphasizes the need for more nuanced data collection and analysis to better understand and address the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities.