[Prevalence of visual, hearing, speech, physical, intellectual and mental disabilities in China, 2006].

Objective: To explore the prevalence of visual, hearing, speech, physical, intellectual and mental disabilities in China, 2006.

Methods: The reference time of the Second National Sample Survey on Disability was zero hour, April 1, 2006, and 2,526,145 individuals were investigated from 31 provinces autonomous regions or municipalities under the "Disability Classification and Standards for the Second National Sampling Survey on Disability". The classified prevalence rates of 6 types of disability was analyzed.

Results: (1)The overall prevalence of disabilities was 6.39%, which was 1.49 percent higher than the prevalence rate in 1987. The prevalence of physical disability was the highest (2.34%), while the speech disability was the lowest (0.53%). (2)29.49% of all the disabled persons were classified as severe who suffered grade-1 and grade-2 while 70.51% of them were moderately and mildly disabled suffering from grade-3 and grade-4. Over 65% of the speech disability and over 45% of the mental disability were identified, which were much higher than the other 4 types of disability. (3) The correlation between age, gender, residential place and each of 6 types of disability were statistically significant (P < 0.001). (4) Among all the disabling factors of speech disability and mental retardation disability, congenital factors made great contribution (22.67% and 22.41% respectively).

Conclusion: According to the analysis results,the characteristics of disabled persons in China were as follows: ageing population had high prevalence rate of disability; all the population mainly suffered moderate and mild disability, but the proportion of severe disability was not low; the prevalence rate was higher and the main reasons caused disability were diversification in rural area.