Disparities of Socio-Demographic Factors between Visually Disabled People and Other Disabled People: KNHANES III

Tyler Hyung Taek Rim; Dong Min Lee; Christopher Seung Kyu Lee

doi:10.3341/jkos.2012.53.12.1857

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Rim, Lee, and Lee: Disparities of Socio-Demographic Factors between Visually Disabled People and Other Disabled People: KNHANES III

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2012; 53(12): 1857-1863.

Published online: 17 December 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2012.53.12.1857

Disparities of Socio-Demographic Factors between Visually Disabled People and Other Disabled People: KNHANES III

Tyler Hyung Taek Rim, MD, Dong Min Lee, MD, Christopher Seung Kyu Lee, MD

Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to Christopher Seung Kyu Lee, MD. Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Hospital, #50 Yeonse-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2228-3570, Fax: 82-2-312-0541, SKLEE219@yuhs.ac

Received 22 May 2012 Accepted 6 November 2012

Abstract

Purpose

To identify the disparities of socio-demographic factors between visually disabled people and other people with disabilities.

Methods

The fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES III) is a nationwide survey. The present study included 25,125 people who completed the KNHANES III. For analysis, the participants were divided into 3 groups: subjects without disabilities, subjects with disabilities but without visual disabilities, and subjects with visual disabilities. The gender, age, monthly house income, occupation, education, residential area, and health insurance were investigated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the most differentiating factor.

Results

Visually disabled people were proportionally older (40 to 64 years), were male, living in a non-metropolitan area except Seoul/Pusan/Gyunggi compared to other disabled people and also had a higher proportion of the above factors, as well as lower education compared to non-disabled people.

Conclusions

Socio-demographic factors showed disparities in visually disabled people and people with other disabilities. Ophthalmologists should understand these disparities and be involved in establishing policies to reduce the disparities. Ophthalmologists also need to provide holistic and comprehensive medical care using the Blindness is Preventable! Korea Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness, consultation with social work teams in hospitals and other institutions, as well as evaluating the visual impairment.

Keywords: Disparity, KNHANES III, Socio-demographic factors, Visually disabled people, Visual impairment

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Sociodemographic factors among Non-disabled people, Diabled people, and Visual disabilities. ^*p-value < 0.01.

Table 1

Characteristic of study population (n = 25,215)

NHI = National Health Insurance; PHI = Private Health Insurance.

^*Administrator, Management, Professional, Business and financial operations occupations, Sales and related occupations.

Table 2

Factors associated with subjects with disabilities but without visual disabilities, and subjects with visual disabilities - multivariate logistic regression analysis (n = 25,215)

NHI = national health insurance; PHI = private health insurance.

^*Administrator, Management, Professional, Business and financial operations occupations, Sales and related occupations.

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