Testing a New Survey Module on Child Functioning and Disability in South Africa

Tshepho Brian Matlwa, Statistics South Africa
Leonard Ahuejere, Statistics South Africa
Michael Medupi, Statistics South Africa
Vivian Marapjane, Stats SA
Nwabisa Xosa, statssa
Job Mothiba, statssa

Large information gaps exist with regards to what is known about disabilities amongst children internationally. This includes limited comparable and reliable data on disabilities amongst children, their activity limitations and how the environment affects their participation in the communities. In order to address this problem UNICEF and the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG) have proposed a new survey module on child functioning and disability for use in surveys and censuses. Statistics South Africa has conducted research into the viability of this new module for the child disability measurement in its future national household surveys. A two phased approach was used during the research study. This paper outlines how the research study was conducted, presents the results from this study and discusses the recommendations with regards to the use of this module for the measurement of child disabilities in future household surveys conducted by Statistics South Africa