Vol. 3. Living conditions among people with disabilities in Malawi

This national, representative study on living conditions among people with disabilities in Malawi is the result of an international co-operation between Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD), Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi (FEDOMA), Norwegian Federation of Organisations of Disabled People (FFO), University of Malawi (Centre for Social Research), and SINTEF Health Research. Organisations of people with disabilities and individuals with disabilities have played a key role in design development and implementation of the study. The research instrument comprises a study on living conditions among households with/without disabled members, a screening instrument (for disability), a section with specific questions to individuals with disabilities, and a matrix that represents an operationalisation of core concepts from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Results from the study demonstrated systematic differences in that individuals with disabilities/households with disabled members report lower level of living on a number of indicators. Furthermore, serious gaps in service delivery were demonstrated.