Disability And Health Journal[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Human papilloma virus, workforce training, and telehealth as another considerations for sexual health care among autistic individuals.
Kim Y, Choe I, Tabrizi M … +6 more , Ioanitoaia-Chaudhry I, Namkung Y, Wallace SM, Namkung H, Bae G, Yoo JW
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41622058 · Publisher ↗
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Health literacy and structural poverty: Missing mediators in the disability-COVID-19 stressor nexus.
Wahyudin H, Oktasari M, Stevani H … +2 more , Hikmy BJ, Yulia C
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41617584 · Publisher ↗
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Burden of pneumococcal disease among adults with cerebral palsy.
Whitney DG
Disabil Health J · 2026 Jul · PMID 41611581 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: People with cerebral palsy (CP) may have an elevated risk of pneumococcal disease, which is a vaccine-preventable disease, but this has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: To compare the initial rate and number of i...
BACKGROUND: People with cerebral palsy (CP) may have an elevated risk of pneumococcal disease, which is a vaccine-preventable disease, but this has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: To compare the initial rate and number of incident pneumococcal disease events up to 9-years between adults with vs. without CP. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study accessed a 20 % random Fee-For-Service Medicare dataset from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, including claims from adults ≥18 years old with CP and elderly ≥65 years without CP from 01/01/2008-12/31/2019. The incidence rate (IR) per 1000 person-years, IR ratio (IRR), and the number distinct events of all-cause pneumonia, pneumococcal pneumonia, and invasive pneumococcal disease was estimated for each cohort up to 9-years of follow-up. RESULTS: The IR and IRR of the first event was higher for adults with CP ≥ 18 years old compared to elderly without CP for all-cause pneumonia (IR[95 %CI] = 71.24[69.85-72.63] and 40.10[40.04-40.16], respectively; IRR[95 %CI] = 1.78[1.74-1.81]), pneumococcal pneumonia (IR[95 %CI] = 6.27[5.90-6.64] and 2.44[2.43-2.46], respectively; IRR[95 %CI] = 2.57[2.42-2.72]), and invasive pneumococcal disease (IR[95 %CI] = 0.64[0.52-0.75] and 0.26[0.26-0.27], respectively; IRR[95 %CI] = 2.44[2.04-2.93]). Among those with outcome events, adults ≥18 years old with CP had a higher number of distinct all-cause pneumonia (e.g., 0 and ≥ 7 events, 54.8 % and 1.7 % for men with CP and 71.9 % and 0.1 % for elderly men without CP) and pneumococcal pneumonia (e.g., 0 and ≥ 2 events, 96.1 % and 0.5 % for women with CP and 98.4 % and 0.1 % for elderly women without CP) events compared to elderly without CP. Notably, when stratified by sex and age group, the IR of pneumococcal pneumonia for both men and women with CP was comparable between the youngest age group, 18-25 years old, and elderly ≥75 years old without CP (e.g., 18-25 year old men with CP, IR[95 %CI] = 3.81[2.29-5.33] and ≥75 year old men without CP, 4.01[3.97-4.05]). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest the at-risk window for pneumococcal disease begins about 4 decades earlier for CP compared to the general population; prevention efforts may need to consider implementing strategies earlier in the lifespan for this population.
Predictors of concern about falling among adults who use wheelchairs and/or motorized mobility scooters full-time: a cross-sectional study.
Moein S, Peterson EW, Rice LA
Disabil Health J · 2026 Jul · PMID 41571548 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Concern about falling (CaF) can emerge after experiencing a fall or recognizing personal fall risk. High CaF may lead to activity curtailment, greater fall risk, and reduced quality of life and participation...
BACKGROUND: Concern about falling (CaF) can emerge after experiencing a fall or recognizing personal fall risk. High CaF may lead to activity curtailment, greater fall risk, and reduced quality of life and participation in full-time wheelchair/scooter (WC/S) users. Identifying predictors of CaF can help clinicians address CaF in rehabilitation interventions. OBJECTIVE: To examine predictors of CaF among individuals living with various health conditions who use WC/S full-time. METHODS: This cross-sectional online survey included adults who used WC/S full-time for at least one year and had experienced at least one fall in the prior three years. Path analysis identified predictors of CaF, measured by the Fall Concerns Scale for people who use WC/S (FCS-WC/S). RESULTS: 137 people who use WC/S full-time (63 % male, 37 % female) participated. Being younger (p < .05), being male (p <.05), having experienced at least one fall-related injury in the past year (p < .01), having a higher impact of chronic dizziness on physical, emotional, and functional well-being (p < .001), inability to get up from the ground independently (p < .01), and lower burden of depressive symptoms (p < .05) were predictors of increased levels of CaF. CONCLUSION: This study's findings suggest that the influences of CaF among people who use WC/S are multifactorial. Awareness of these predictors can help researchers and clinicians develop screenings to better identify people who use WC/S with high levels of CaF and develop treatment plans to effectively manage CaF.
National trends in orthopedic surgical procedures among adults with spina bifida: A MarketScan database study.
Arif HA, Feijoo E, Starnes E … +6 more , Rutland A, Hopson BD, Smith A, Morla V, McGwin G, Conklin MJ
Disabil Health J · 2026 Jul · PMID 41565569 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Prenatal screening and folic acid supplementation have decreased spina bifida (SB) incidence, while advances in multidisciplinary care have increased life expectancy for those born with the condition. Histori...
BACKGROUND: Prenatal screening and folic acid supplementation have decreased spina bifida (SB) incidence, while advances in multidisciplinary care have increased life expectancy for those born with the condition. Historically, orthopedic outcomes research has focused largely on childhood, as earlier assumptions regarding limited survival into adulthood contributed to the exclusion of adults with SB from longitudinal studies. As a result, knowledge of orthopedic procedures performed on adults with SB may help to guide treatment in childhood and transition to adult care. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of orthopedic procedures performed on adults with SB. METHODS: The MarketScan database was queried to investigate the frequency of orthopedic procedures among adults with SB. All orthopedic Current Procedural Terminology codes were assessed, as were codes for upper extremity nerve decompression procedures. RESULTS: A total of 10,869 adults with SB were included. Patients were, on average, 38.1 years ± 14.5 old and female (58.6 %). Patients most commonly underwent application of multi-layer compression below the leg (12.1 %), Unna boot application (6.7 %), and sacroiliac (SI) joint injections (4.7 %). Over one-third (n = 4,036, 37.1 %) of patients underwent casting/strapping procedures. Joint arthroplasty was observed in 1.8 % of patients while lower extremity amputations occurred in 4.4 % of patients. Nerve decompressions (n = 210, 1.9 %) were the most common upper extremity procedures followed by arthroscopic shoulder surgery (n = 151, 1.4 %). CONCLUSION: Adults with SB underwent a notable burden of casting/strapping and procedures related to wound care, representing ongoing problems with skin breakdown. Injection of the SI joint was a common procedure. Joint arthroplasty, rotator cuff repair, and nerve decompression, while less frequent, may demonstrate both the long-term sequelae of altered gait mechanics and the upper extremity consequences of prolonged use of assistive mobility devices.
Navigating child SSI: A qualitative study of systemic, family, and provider-level influences.
Rabinovich L, Ozawa T
Disabil Health J · 2026 Jul · PMID 41507015 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program of the Social Security Administration (SSA) provides an important safety net to families of children with severe disabilities who meet specific income and asset...
BACKGROUND: The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program of the Social Security Administration (SSA) provides an important safety net to families of children with severe disabilities who meet specific income and asset criteria. Despite its importance, there is evidence that around 30 % of potentially eligible children are not enrolled. OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study examines individuals' experiences of barriers and facilitators to enrollment in child SSI. METHODS: We conducted 51 interviews with caregivers of children with severe disabilities, including 36 interviews with individuals who applied for child SSI, and 15 with individuals who have potentially eligible children but who have not applied. RESULTS: We find that several deterrents to take up may be at play. The perception of high application burden, limited time, cognitive demands of competing household responsibilities, and psychological stress limited caregivers' ability to get through the application's administrative "sludge." Moreover, the stigmatizing or "labeling" effect of SSI enrollment on their children, as well as the perceived compliance costs of child SSI, deterred applications. Finally, our interviews reveal that service providers, most within pediatric healthcare settings, play a critical role in facilitating access to child SSI. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that more systemic capacity building for service providers could level the playing field for potential applicants in the context of other sources of enrollment variability.
Machine learning to improve analysis of disability in electronic health records: an untapped opportunity for health inequities research.
Rotenberg S, Mesinovic M, Saloniki EC … +3 more , Chen S, Raine R, Kuper H
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41500900 · Publisher ↗
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are a leading source of epidemiological data, but often lack information on a patient's disability status. This gap hampers our ability to analyse the full scope of health inequities face...
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are a leading source of epidemiological data, but often lack information on a patient's disability status. This gap hampers our ability to analyse the full scope of health inequities faced by people with disabilities. Current approaches to identify disability within EHRs have limitations because of inadequate proxies for disability or issues linking data sources. Machine learning (ML) offer unprecedented opportunities to create disability markers within EHRs, such as through unsupervised learning to classify disability groups and Natural Language Processing to extract relevant information from clinical notes. These methods have the potential improve disability-disaggregated analyses within EHRs to uncover patterns and provide a more comprehensive understanding of healthcare pathways and outcomes for people with disabilities. Leveraging these approaches to improve disability data in EHRs is a critical step towards improving health inequities research, though require strong adherence to ethical guidelines and validation of these new approaches.
Physical activity for weight loss maintenance in people with and without physical disability: The international weight control registry.
Clina JG, Sayer RD, Friedman JE … +6 more , Chui TK, Gorczyca AM, Das SK, Fowler LA, Roberts SB, Hill JO
Disabil Health J · 2026 Jul · PMID 41494932 · Full text
BACKGROUND: People with physical disabilities (PWD) are at increased risk for obesity compared to people without disability (PWoD). PWD face barriers to physical activity (PA), which is important for weight loss maintena...
BACKGROUND: People with physical disabilities (PWD) are at increased risk for obesity compared to people without disability (PWoD). PWD face barriers to physical activity (PA), which is important for weight loss maintenance (WLM) in PWoD. However, the role of PA in WLM has not been evaluated in PWD. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in PA between PWD and PWoD and whether PA is associated with WLM success among PWD. METHODS: Data were derived from 536 participants already enrolled in the International Weight Control Registry, which included targeted recruitment of PWD. Physical disability was self-reported via study-designed survey capturing presence and type of disability. PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and weight history was self-reported as "Successful" (lost weight and maintained ≥1 year), "Regain," or (Lost but regained within 1 year). PA was compared between PWD and PWoD and among PWD by weight history status using generalized regression models. RESULTS: PWD (n = 174) reported more sedentary time (β = 0.34; 95 % CI = 0.16-0.52, p < 0.001), and greater odds of reporting zero total physical activity (OR = 5.18, 95 % CI = 2.19-12.24, p < 0.001), zero total leisure physical activity (OR = 2.22, 95 % CI = 1.51-3.26, p < 0.001), and zero leisure vigorous physical activity (OR = 1.87, 95 % CI = 1.15-3.02, p = 0.011). There were no significant differences in PA among PWD based on weight history status. CONCLUSIONS: PA may not be a critical factor influencing weight maintenance in PWD. Even among successful participants, PWD report lower PA than PWoD, highlighting the need for inclusive PA programs.
The direct support professional (DSP) workforce as a social determinant of health of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Friedman C
Disabil Health J · 2026 Jul · PMID 41486022 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Direct support professionals (DSPs) play a key role in supporting the health and quality of life of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Despite the importance of their roles, the DS...
BACKGROUND: Direct support professionals (DSPs) play a key role in supporting the health and quality of life of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Despite the importance of their roles, the DSP workforce also represents a major threat to the health and quality of life of people with IDD due to the instability of the workforce, and the consequences of this instability. OBJECTIVE: We theorize and purport that the status, availability, and quality of the DSP workforce should be considered a social determinant of health of people with IDD. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between DSP turnover, and people with IDD's health and social determinants of health-related outcomes. METHODS: We analyzed secondary Personal Outcome Measures (POM) data from 5457 people with IDD (January 2018 and December 2024) using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regressions, and negative binomial regression models. RESULTS: People with IDD who experienced DSP turnover were significantly less likely to have health outcomes present, and to receive person-centered health supports (odds ratios ranged from 0.50 to 0.77). People with IDD who experienced DSP turnover also had a 19.10 % decrease in other social determinants of health-related outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The harms of an unstable DSP workforce can be two-fold, in that it both directly negatively impacts people with IDD's health outcomes and health services, and it negatively impacts other areas of people with IDD's lives that also serve as social determinants of health, which also go on to hinder people with IDD's health.
Health-care utilization after domestic violence: A nationwide study in Taiwan comparing individuals with and without intellectual disability.
Chen SH, Tseng YW, Pu C
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41484029 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Although individuals with intellectual disability (ID) experiencing domestic violence (DV) have greater health-care needs than do those without ID, research on the health-care utilization patterns of these in...
BACKGROUND: Although individuals with intellectual disability (ID) experiencing domestic violence (DV) have greater health-care needs than do those without ID, research on the health-care utilization patterns of these individuals is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether ID influences health-care utilization among those who experience DV. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used nationwide data from Taiwan's Family Violence dataset and National Health Insurance claims data from 2011 to 2022. The primary outcome measures were the frequency of general outpatient and psychiatric visits before and after the DV incident. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to analyze trends in health-care utilization over time after adjustment for covariates. RESULTS: The results of an analysis of health-care utilization from 3 months before to 3 months after a DV incident indicated that individuals with ID visited general outpatient and psychiatric clinics more than individuals without ID did. Additionally, GEE analysis results revealed that from the first to the second month following DV, health-care utilization was greater in the ID group, who had 21.23 % more general outpatient visits and 52.05 % more psychiatric visits than did those without ID, indicating prolonged negative health effects associated with DV in these individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with ID who experience DV have prolonged health-care needs after DV compared with individuals without ID. For sustained recovery and improved long-term results, post-DV support should be responsive to a person's disability status and specific needs.
Disability competencies in the licensure examinations of health professions.
Campbell LC, Rydberg L
Disabil Health J · 2026 Jul · PMID 41469271 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Disability-centric curricula in the education of health providers are often limited and highly variable across programs. It is unclear whether disability-centric content is tested in the licensure exams of he...
BACKGROUND: Disability-centric curricula in the education of health providers are often limited and highly variable across programs. It is unclear whether disability-centric content is tested in the licensure exams of health professions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the congruency of the licensure exams of eight health professions with the Core Competencies on Disability for Health Care Education. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of publicly available official exam content outlines via key word search and manual mapping to identify the presence of Core Competencies. RESULTS: The median number of Core Competencies addressed by the content outlines was three (range 1-4). The most common Core Competency was Competency 2 (professionalism and patient-centered care; 8/8 exams), often in the context of using interpretive services or accessible forms of communication. No content outline addressed Competency 4 (teams and systems-based care), and only one addressed Competency 3 (legal obligations). The exams for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and clinical social work addressed the most competencies (4/6); the exam for physician assistants addressed the fewest (1/6). The median number of uses of the words "disabilit (y/ies)" and "disabl (ed/ing)" within content outlines was 1.5 (range: 0-11), with two outlines lacking any uses. CONCLUSION: On average, health professions licensure exams, as proxied by their content outlines, addressed only half of the Core Competencies on Disability and often in a limited, specific manner. With the high and increasing prevalence of disability among American adults, health professions should strive to educate and assess their students using a disability-competent curriculum.
Training medical providers to serve diverse deaf patients: Age-based intervention effects in a randomized trial.
Anderson ML, Wilkins AM, Riker T … +6 more , Franck NL, McGinnis F, McGovern R, Carter J, Aquino C, Wang B
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41444068 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Deaf American Sign Language users are severely underserved in the U.S. healthcare system. To address longstanding inaccessibility and mistrust, our Deaf community-led team produced a film to train providers t...
BACKGROUND: Deaf American Sign Language users are severely underserved in the U.S. healthcare system. To address longstanding inaccessibility and mistrust, our Deaf community-led team produced a film to train providers to better serve Deaf patients - Vital Signs. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a two-arm randomized controlled trial to evaluate preliminary efficacy of Vital Signs among healthcare providers and health professions students. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to review Vital Signs or intervention as usual - standard written guidance about working with Deaf patients. Intervention completers were invited to participate in a simulation with a Deaf standardized patient. Three Deaf team members were trained to review simulation recordings and complete validated patient self-report measures of provider behavior: Healthcare Provider Cultural Competency; Ask, Understand, and Remember Assessment; and Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale. RESULTS: Of 208 enrolled participants, 52 completed all study components and were included in final analyses. A clear pattern of results emerged - participant age influenced learning and behavior change in response to different training strategies. Participants aged 33+ who viewed Vital Signs scored higher on content knowledge compared to same-aged peers who reviewed training as usual, but worse across measures of cultural competency, communication skill, and trust-building. An opposite pattern emerged for participants younger than 33 years - those who watched Vital Signs exhibited greater cultural competence, communication skill, and trust-building abilities than same-aged peers who reviewed standard written guidance. CONCLUSION: Future steps include an implementation trial of various Vital Signs training configurations, evaluating strategies for training health professions students versus experienced providers.
The impact of functional limitation status on all-cause and premature mortality among US adults: Findings from the 2011 National Health Interview Survey.
Orlov D, Sharath S, Calixte R
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41423363 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Functional limitation (FL) encompasses impaired performance across six physical and cognitive health domains. While the impact of FL on health outcomes is recognized, its longitudinal association with survivo...
BACKGROUND: Functional limitation (FL) encompasses impaired performance across six physical and cognitive health domains. While the impact of FL on health outcomes is recognized, its longitudinal association with survivorship in United States (US) adults remains underexplored. OBJECTIVE: Using the 2011 National Health Interview Survey and the associated 2019 Linked Mortality File, this survival analysis evaluates whether US adults who report experiencing FLs are at a greater risk of all-cause and premature mortality compared to adults who do not report any FLs. METHODS: We categorized respondents (n = 15,958) into three FL groups (no difficulty, some difficulty, a lot of difficulty) and employed survey-weighted Cox regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality outcomes, adjusting sequentially for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related variables. RESULTS: At baseline, 35.7 % of participants reported at least some FL, and 10.2 % reported a lot of FL. Those with a lot of FL faced higher risks for all-cause mortality (adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) = 3.24; 95 % Confidence Interval (CI): 2.71-3.87) and premature mortality (aHR = 2.79; 95 % CI: 1.83-4.26) in the fully-adjusted models. These associations attenuated through sequential adjustment, suggesting confounding by sociodemographic and health-related factors. CONCLUSION: Though the FL-mortality link weakens after adjusting for sociodemographic and health factors, FL remains a key marker of vulnerability, especially in older adults with multimorbidity. Future research should explore the impact of FLs on cause-specific mortality and closely examine which of the six domains of functionality are independently related to survivorship.
Is doing more always better? A mixed methods study examining the relationship between subjective and objective aspects of community participation among people with multiple sclerosis.
Yang B, Molton I, Humbert A … +4 more , Gregg E, Iribarren S, Hurvitz P, Lee D
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41423362 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Community participation is an important health outcome among people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and includes subjective (e.g., satisfaction) and objective aspects (e.g., frequency). Conceptual literature e...
BACKGROUND: Community participation is an important health outcome among people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and includes subjective (e.g., satisfaction) and objective aspects (e.g., frequency). Conceptual literature emphasizes the need for measuring both types of aspects to fully understand participation, yet empirical evidence remains limited. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between subjective and objective aspects of community participation and their associations with person-related and environmental factors. METHODS: A mixed methods design was used. Correlation analyses of previously collected self-reported and GPS-based data from 100 PwMS assessed statistical associations between subjective and objective participation. Four focus groups were conducted with 24 PwMS discussing the relationship between participation satisfaction and performance. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Moderate to strong correlations (.4-.78, p < 0.001) were found within objective (trip frequency, distance, duration, and activity space) and subjective participation measures (perceived ability and satisfaction). However, associations between subjective and objective aspects were mostly weak (.2-.32, p < 0.05). Person-related and environmental factors showed varying correlations, with generally stronger associations for subjective participation measures (.17 to -.57, p < 0.01) than objective measures (.16-.36, p < 0.05). Aligned with quantitative results, qualitative themes revealed that greater participation quantity may facilitate satisfaction, but frequent and extensive participation is not necessary to reach satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides integrated quantitative and qualitative evidence that subjective and objective aspects of participation are related but distinct. Attention must be paid to the divergence between these aspects to address real-world barriers.
Perinatal experiences of disabled women in rural Türkiye: A qualitative study.
Yamaç SU, Ak EÇ, Keleş MG
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41402225 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Women with disabilities encounter unique social and structural barriers that hinder their access to quality reproductive healthcare, particularly in rural settings. These barriers are often exacerbated by soc...
BACKGROUND: Women with disabilities encounter unique social and structural barriers that hinder their access to quality reproductive healthcare, particularly in rural settings. These barriers are often exacerbated by societal stigma, discrimination, and inadequate disability-inclusive services. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this qualitative study is to explore the reproductive experiences of women with disabilities in rural Türkiye, focusing on the pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods. The study aims to identify the social and systemic barriers these women face in accessing and navigating maternal health services in these settings. METHODS: This qualitative research was conducted in a rural district in southern Türkiye between May and July 2024. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were carried out with 19 women aged 18-49 with various types of disabilities. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. RESULTS: Four central themes emerged from the participants' narratives: (1) experiences of social judgment and emotional distress during pregnancy, (2) contrasting birth experiences influenced by the presence or absence of inclusive care, (3) mixed experiences of support during the postpartum period, and (4) identified expectations and encountered social barriers in motherhood. Many participants reported encountering significant stigma, prejudice, and emotional mistreatment from family, community, and healthcare providers. Conversely, the presence of supportive, disability-aware midwives played a vital role in positive maternal experiences, promoting resilience among participants. CONCLUSION: The reproductive journeys of disabled women in rural communities are significantly impacted by stigma and systemic inadequacies. Enhancing disability-focused education for healthcare providers, improving postpartum support systems, and addressing social stigma through public education are crucial steps toward achieving reproductive equity.
Unpacking housing needs: Utilization of rental assistance among a national sample of households with children with disabilities.
Wilson AB, Shea L, Cooper D … +6 more , Lee WL, Ventimiglia J, Carlton C, Okoye S, Roux A, Lovell A
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41402224 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Affordable housing provides a critical foundation for children's health. Yet little is known about how households of children with disabilities engage in federal rental assistance programs. OBJECTIVE: This st...
BACKGROUND: Affordable housing provides a critical foundation for children's health. Yet little is known about how households of children with disabilities engage in federal rental assistance programs. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the rates of participation in HUD rental assistance programs among households of children with disabilities in 2023 and assesses the odds of these households residing in specific HUD rental assistance programs. METHODS: This paper engages a population level cross-sectional analysis of HUD-assisted households using HUD household and member data files. The sample included all households receiving HUD rental assistance in 2023 that were led by an adult between the ages 18-61 and included at least one child (n = 1,558,711). Participation in HUD rental assistance programs was quantified and characterized through descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Eight percent (n = 134,628; 1 in 12) of HUD-assisted households with children included at least one child with a disability. Compared to HUD-assisted households with a child without a disability, HUD-assisted households with a child with a disability had higher odds of participating in a Housing Choice Voucher Program than in Multifamily Housing by a factor of 2.6 and higher odds of participating in Public Housing than Multifamily Housing by a factor of 2.2. CONCLUSIONS: HUD rental assistance programs serve a substantial share of households with children with disabilities, with notable variation in participation by program type. This study provides the most comprehensive national estimates to date of HUD participation among households with children with disabilities, offering a critical foundation for future research.
Sexual health and challenges among 15-89-year-old Danes with and without severe visual impairment: Baseline findings in a nationally representative cohort study.
Graugaard C, Stentoft D, Andersson M … +1 more , Frisch M
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41391976 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Limited evidence exists on the sexual health of individuals with severe visual impairment. OBJECTIVE: To assess a broad range of sexual health indicators among 15-89-year-old Danes with severe visual impairme...
BACKGROUND: Limited evidence exists on the sexual health of individuals with severe visual impairment. OBJECTIVE: To assess a broad range of sexual health indicators among 15-89-year-old Danes with severe visual impairment. METHODS: Baseline data were sourced from a nationally representative cohort study on sexual health in the Danish population. Participants reporting (N = 631) and not reporting (N = 60,482) severe visual impairment were compared. Binary and polytomous logistic regression analyses provided demographically weighted, confounder-adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between visual impairment and sexual health outcomes. RESULTS: Several disparities emerged. Men with visual impairment were less likely to be sexually experienced (aOR: 0.52; CI: 0.30-0.91), to have been sexually active in the past year (aOR: 0.72; CI: 0.51-0.99), to rate their current sex life as good/very good (aOR: 0.74; CI: 0.55-0.99), and to have masturbated in the past year (aOR: 0.74; CI: 0.55-0.99). They were more likely to have had unsafe sex in the past year (aOR: 1.61; CI: 1.13-2.31) and to have experienced sexual assault (aOR: 2.34; CI: 1.17-4.72). Women with visual impairment were more likely to report sexual victimization (aOR: 1.73; CI: 1.23-2.44), same-sex sexual experiences (aOR: 1.83; CI: 1.25-2.68), and identifying as non-heterosexual (aOR: 1.79; CI: 1.24-2.58). CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores significant sexual health challenges among individuals with severe visual impairment, notably victimization (both genders) and unsafe sex (men). Additionally, higher rates of same-sex sexual experiences and non-heterosexual identities were observed among visually impaired women.
Receipt and content of perinatal health care across pre-pregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum stages by extent of disability.
Newby-Kew A, Snowden JM, Valentine A … +3 more , Akobirshoev I, Mitra M, Horner-Johnson W
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41353014 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: People with disabilities experience substantial disparities in perinatal health and outcomes that may be impacted by inequities in health care. OBJECTIVE: This study assesses how receipt and content of perina...
BACKGROUND: People with disabilities experience substantial disparities in perinatal health and outcomes that may be impacted by inequities in health care. OBJECTIVE: This study assesses how receipt and content of perinatal care varies by extent of disability. METHOD: We analyzed 2019-2021 PRAMS data from 22 sites that included the Washington Group Short Set of Questions (n = 43,567). We examined association of extent of disability (none, some, a lot) with pre-pregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum health care using multivariable Poisson regression to calculate state-adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and sociodemographic-adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs). Among individuals who received each care type, we calculated PRs and aPRs for content of care, including topics pertaining to maternal health, pregnancy prevention, and preparing for a healthy pregnancy. RESULTS: Compared to those with no difficulty, respondents with some difficulty were less likely to receive pre-pregnancy care from an OB/GYN (PR = 0.93; 95 %CI 0.6, 0.98) or a postpartum checkup (PR = 0.98; 95 %CI 0.98, 0.99); respondents with a lot of difficulty were less likely to receive pre-pregnancy care from an OB/GYN (PR = 0.86; 95 %CI 0.74, 1.00), adequate prenatal care (PR = 0.92; 95 %CI 0.90, 0.95), or a postpartum checkup (PR = 0.94; 95 %CI 0.90, 0.95). Respondents with any level of difficulty were at least as likely as those with no difficulty to receive education on maternal health topics and pregnancy prevention but less likely to receive care addressing desire for children or preparing for a healthy pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Disabled women, particularly those with a lot of difficulty, receive differential perinatal health care. Our findings highlight the need for comprehensive and equitable care.
Physical fitness of adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities in special support schools: Insights from Japan's 2023 national survey.
Sato H, Akisue T, Yamamoto A … +4 more , Ono K, Sato T, Tonogaki R, Nagao T
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41350157 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often demonstrate lower physical fitness than their typically developing (TD) peers. Physical fitness is influenced by factors such as body s...
BACKGROUND: Adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often demonstrate lower physical fitness than their typically developing (TD) peers. Physical fitness is influenced by factors such as body size, physical activity, ethnicity, and environmental conditions; however, large-scale studies in Asian populations remain limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess physical fitness in Japanese adolescents with IDD, accounting for height, weight, and physical activity levels. METHODS: Data were obtained from Japan's 2023 National Survey on Physical Fitness, Athletic Ability, and Exercise Habits. Participants included 2,216 adolescents with IDD attending special support schools and 921,297 TD students. Variables included height, weight, total weekly physical activity time, and eight physical fitness tests: handgrip strength, sit-ups, sit-and-reach test, repetitive side jump, 20-m shuttle run, 50-m run, standing long jump, and handball throw. After propensity score matching by sex, Mann-Whitney U tests and ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: After adjusting for height, weight, and physical activity level, adolescents with IDD showed consistently lower performance across all test items than their TD peers, regardless of sex (effect sizes r = 0.35-0.74). Longer total weekly physical activity time was positively associated with better comprehensive evaluations. The IDD group had approximately twice the prevalence of obesity and significantly less weekly physical activity time. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese adolescents with IDD demonstrate lower physical fitness, higher obesity rates, and reduced physical activity than TD peers. Targeted interventions, including increased physical activity, are needed to improve health and functional outcomes in this population.
Factors associated with a decline in ambulatory status among children and adults with Spina Bifida in the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry.
Conklin M, Hopson B, Castillo J … +10 more , Polfuss M, Rahman AF, Runge B, Chambers TM, Smith K, Castillo H, O'Neil J, Adams R, Murphy P, Rocque BG
Disabil Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41285664 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Obesity disproportionately affects children with disabilities as compared to their nondisabled peers. This is particularly concerning due to challenges with ambulation, transfer, and reliance on caregivers. T...
BACKGROUND: Obesity disproportionately affects children with disabilities as compared to their nondisabled peers. This is particularly concerning due to challenges with ambulation, transfer, and reliance on caregivers. The degree to which obesity in children with spina bifida (SB) impacts ambulatory status is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine factors associated with a decline in ambulatory status among children and young adults living with SB. METHODS: The National Spina Bifida Patient Registry was used to identify patients at least 5 years of age, who were community ambulators and experienced a decline in ambulation at subsequent visits following enrollment into the registry. A Cox regression model was run to test the association between the time to decline in ambulation and change in BMI with BMI used as a time-varying covariate. Additional variables included were age at enrollment, patient demographics, functional level of lesion (FLOL), diagnosis, and surgical history. RESULTS: 353 of 3032 (11.6 %) patients who were originally identified as community ambulators experienced a decline in ambulation. Median follow up was 3.0 years (inter-quartile range 1.7,4.8). Increase in BMI was significantly associated with decline in ambulation (HR 1.03, 95 % CI 1.01-1.04, p = 0.002) as well as more proximal level of lesion (p < 0.001), myelomeningocele diagnosis (p = 0.001), greater number of surgeries (p = 0.0013), and older age at enrollment (p = 0.0038). CONCLUSION: A small percentage of individuals with SB experienced a decline from community ambulation status during the period observed. There are identifiable and potentially modifiable risk factors associated with this loss, including increased BMI.
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