Introduction:\ Healthcare systems and social services in developing countries are often ill-equipped to provide comprehensive care for people with disabilities (PWDs). As a result, the quality of life for PWD frequently deteriorates. Comprehensive health care includes five key components: access to diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and prevention with follow-up. This study aimed to document those segments of the disabled population and factors most associated with inadequate care in regions of Benin and C{\^o}te d{\textquoteright}Ivoire endemic to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
Methods:\ An exploratory cross-sectional study of PWD was conducted in 2022 in Benin and C{\^o}te d{\textquoteright}Ivoire, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The sample included 841 PWD, 29 caregivers, and 51 family members. Disability management was evaluated using a scoring system ranging from 0 to 5, classifying management into three categories: good management (scores of 4-5), inadequate management (scores of 1-3), and no management (score of 0). Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.5, with a p-value of \<5\% considered statistically significant. Open-ended interviews were carried out with a subsample of PWD, family members, and caretakers to provide further insights into what forms of care were and were not being provided.
Results:\ Among PWD, 98 (11.6\%) experienced disability associated with skin-related neglected tropical diseases skin-NTDs [apply throughout]. Of the total, 158 (18.8\%) received good management, 532 (63.3\%) inadequate management, and 151 (18.0\%) no management at all. The median age of the sample was 38 years (22; 52), and the male-to-female sex ratio was 1.45. The key factors associated with the quality of disability management (expressed as odds ratios [OR] with 95\% confidence intervals [CI] and p-values) were: age 30 to 44 years (OR 0.29 [0.16-0.54], p\<0.000), occupation{\textemdash}saleswoman/housewife (OR 0.32 [0.12-0.81], p=0.017), farmer (OR 0.30 [0.16-0.59], p=0.000), other occupations (OR 0.42 [0.18-0.96]), monthly income over 76 euros (OR 0.41 [0.23-0.74], p=0.003), and cause of disability, specifically skin-NTDs (OR 2.15 [1.13-4.09], p=0.000). The interviews highlighted the need for medical interventions, social and economic support.
Conclusion:\ Comprehensive and sustainable interventions are needed to improve the well being of people affected by disabilities. These need to be built into public health programs for skin-NTDs.
}, year = {2025}, journal = {Frontiers in Tropical Diseases}, volume = {6}, pages = {17}, publisher = {Frontiers Media SA}, issn = {2673-7515}, url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/tropical-diseases/articles/10.3389/fitd.2025.1522660/pdf}, doi = {10.3389/fitd.2025.1522660}, language = {ENG}, }