April 10, 2023

Uganda Bureau of Statistics <> Plot 9 Colville Street <> Website: www.ubos.org Tel: +256-41-4706000 <> E-mail: ubos@ubos.org ESA/STA/AC.219/27

1

Measurement of gender dimensions of

Persons with Disabilities

Presentation Outline

About UBOS Definitions of DisabilityCategories of DisabilityIssues of Concern on DisabilityThe Gender DimensionsMeasurement of the gender dimensions of PWDsRecommendations

About UBOS

The Mandate of Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) is enshrined in the UBOS Act No 12 of June 1998 to:

Develop and maintain a National Statistical System (NSS) so as to ensure collection, analysis and publication of integrated, relevant, reliable and timely official statistical information;

Constitute a coordinating, monitoring and supervisory body for the NSS.

About UBOS-Cont’d

Uganda has developed a Plan for National Statistical Development (PNSD).

The Plan underlines the need to engender statistics. This involves generation of statistics on different cultural, social and economic dimensions between women and men to inform planning and policy processes across key MDAs.

Definitions of Disability

According to the National Policy on Disability (NPD) in Uganda;

Disability is defined as the permanent and substantial functional limitation of daily life activities caused by physical, mental or sensory impairment and environmental barriers resulting in limited participation.

Definitions of Disability-Cont’d

According to the PWD Act 2006;

“Person with Disability“ (PWD) refers to a person having physical, intellectual, sensory or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of that person.

Categories of Disability

Difficulty in hearing;

Difficulty in speaking and conveying messages;

Difficulty in moving around and using other body parts;

Difficulty in seeing;

Strange behavior;

Epilepsy;

Difficulty in learning;

Leprosy;

Loss of feeling;Multiple disabilities (A combination of any of the above disabilities)

Issues of Concern on Disability

Poverty Education and Skills Employment Conflicts and Emergencies Social Security Health HIV/AIDS Accessibility

The gender dimension

PWDs differ in most areas of life and obviously in regard to gender identity.

By ignoring gender and overlooking differences in the roles, responsibilities, access, needs and interests of the two sexes, the interventions run the risk of deepening the inequality between women and men with disabilities.

.

The gender dimension-Cont’d

Disabilities affect men and women differently, but impact more on females compared to males due to social and cultural roles.

Discriminatory cultural practices on property inheritance and property ownership affect the livelihoods of women with disabilities more adversely than men with disabilities.

The gender dimension-Cont’d

This is compounded by inadequate programmes that focus on women with disabilities during service delivery, which makes it even more difficult for them to improve their livelihoods.

The gender dimension-Cont’d

Government has put in policies to benefit all women and girls with disabilities. E.g. the land policy, laws on marriage and divorce, inheritance, domestic violence and other forms of violence against women and girls.

However, in spite of the above, lack of public awareness, negative community attitudes, cultural beliefs and lack of programmes on specific concerns of women with disabilities remain challenges.

Measurement of the gender dimensions of PWDs

In Uganda, the current efforts have been to include a section on Disability in all Surveys and Censuses. The data on PWDs has so far been disaggregated by sex.

Because of the complexity of measuring disability in the context of the ICF, the 2002 PHC defined disability as ‘any difficulty in moving, seeing, hearing, speaking and any mental or learning difficulty, which has lasted or is expected to last 6 months or more.

Measurement of the gender dimensions of PWDs–Cont’d

Q1. Does (NAME) have difficulty seeing even if he/she is wearing glasses?

Q2. Does (NAME) have difficulty hearing even if he/she is using a hearing aid?

Q3. Does (NAME) have difficulty walking or climbing steps?

Q4. Does (NAME) have difficulty in remembering or concentrating?

UDHS 2010/11 Questionnaire

Measurement of the gender dimensions of PWDs–Cont’d

Q1.Because of a health condition does (NAME) have difficulty seeing even if he/she is wearing glasses?

Q2. Because of a health condition does (NAME) have difficulty hearing even if he/she is using a hearing aid?

Q3. Because of a health condition does (NAME) have difficulty walking or climbing steps?

Q4. Because of a health condition does (NAME) have difficulty in remembering or concentrating?

2012 PHC Questionnaire

Measurement of the gender dimensions of PWDs–Cont’d

This kind of measurement neither shows the resulting socio limitations experienced by the affected persons nor indicates the gender differences.

Recommendation

In view of the issues of concern on PWDs, there should be a thorough analysis of the data collected to bring out the gender dimensions.

Thank YouThank You