Youth with disabilities in Thailand

Definition

The definition of disability in Thailand from the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Act of 1991 is a person who has a physical or intellectual disorder. This definition further divides disability into five categories: (1) visually impaired (2) hearing impaired or needing interpretation (3) disability of movement (4) mental or behavioural disabilities and (5) learning disabilities.http://www.rs.mahidol.ac.th/thai/research/journal_t/book1_1/1_4.pdf State’s disabilities school children age in Thailand by Ph.D. Pimpa kajontaam Ratchasuda College Mahidol University This definition of disability does not correspond exactly to the one used by the National Category:Health Interview Survey. The National Health Interview Survey uses a broader definition because it emphasizes the ability to learn, which is the main activity of the young population.http://www.rs.mahidol.ac.th/thai/research/journal_t/book1_1/1_4.pdf State’s disabilities school children age in Thailand by Ph.D. Pimpa kajontaam Ratchasuda College Mahidol University If the National Health Interview Survey’s definition was used, the youth with disabilities as described below would increased to 469,062 people in ages 5-14.http://www.rs.mahidol.ac.th/thai/research/journal_t/book1_1/1_4.pdf State’s disabilities school children age in Thailand by Ph.D. Pimpa kajontaam Ratchasuda College Mahidol University

Statistics of youth with disabilities in Thailand

Data from a central registration database of disabled people has been collected for youth with disabilities from 0-18 years old by the National Office for Empowerment of People with Disabilities. According to this data, on 20 August 2009 it was found that there were 224,290 (21.75%) young people with disabilities, out of a total of 1,031,429 people registered in Thailand.http://www.ffc.or.th/ffc_news/2554/news_2553_09_13.php Statistics on Children with Disabilities. By Thailand Foundation For Children The top three regions in Thailand with the greatest number of youth with disabilities were:

• the northeastern region (27.38%)
• the central region (24.46%) and
• the northern region (14.40%).

This is illustrated in Table 1.http://www.ffc.or.th/ffc_news/2554/news_2553_09_13.php Statistics on Children with Disabilities. By Thailand Foundation For Children 1.1http://www.ffc.or.th/ffc_news/2554/news_2553_09_13.php Statistics on Children with Disabilities. By Thailand Foundation For Children This illustrated show map for Thailand divided by regions Thailandhttp://thailandforvisitors.com/general/regions.html Youth with disabilities have a much harder time accessing and succeeding in their education (table 2). Four of the main reasons for this are:

1. students’ disability prevents them from fully concentrating and learning well;
2. there are very few schools for youth with disabilities;
3. many schools may not admit students with disabilities;
4. social life can be difficult for disabled students.

Overall, youth with disabilities who are not enrolled in school, or more than 201,351 people, account for 33.8 percent of youth not attending school in Thailand.http://www.rs.mahidol.ac.th/thai/research/journal_t/book1_1/1_4.pdf State’s disabilities school children age in Thailand by Ph.D. Pimpa kajontaam Ratchasuda College Mahidol University 1.2http://www.rs.mahidol.ac.th/thai/research/journal_t/book1_1/1_4.pdf State’s disabilities school children age in Thailand by Ph.D. Pimpa kajontaam Ratchasuda College Mahidol University

Disabilities of Thai youth and adults

The table below is the result of the 2007 disability survey by the National Statistical Office Thailand. 2.1http://cpho.moph.go.th/wp/?p=8922

• Abrachia is an abnormal physical condition resulting from defective genes or developmental deficiencies.http://www.thefreedictionary.com/abrachia
• Amyotrophy is progressive wasting of muscle tissues. Muscle pain is also a symptom.http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/amyotrophy
• Cerebral Palsy is a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that is caused by injury or abnormal development in the immature brain, most often before birth.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cerebral-palsy/DS00302

Reasons for high numbers of disabled youth in Thailand

The majority of disabled youth in Thailand have some type of intellectual disability. The reason for this may come from a lack of nutrients such as iodine. In many regions, Thailand’s population suffers from iodine deficiency. Iodine deficiency is especially detrimental for pregnant women, and due to the lack of quality of iodized salt in many households, many pregnant women do not have access to enough iodine. This is demonstrated by the map below.http://iodinethailand.fda.moph.go.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=20&lang=th Iodine Map by Thailand Food and Drug Administration 3.1http://iodinethailand.fda.moph.go.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=20&lang=th Iodine Map by Thailand Food and Drug Administration 3.2http://iodinethailand.fda.moph.go.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=20&lang=th Iodine Map by Thailand Food and Drug Administration

Examples of issues found

4.1http://thaijobsgov.com/jobs=787 On 10 February 2013 a report from the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand stated that many of Thailand’s children suffer from birth defects. This phenomenon affects the population on the family level because it is the family who must bear the burden of care; there are also psychological effects on the parents. In Thailand three to five percent of newborn children per year are born with a disability. It is estimated that approximately 800,000 children are born each year with birth defects. Further, a record number of children, nearly 24,000 to 40,000 or up to 20 to 30 percent of the population, die due to disabilities and birth defects. Ministry of Public Health reveal found children with disabilities from birth 24,000 to 40,000 people per year urged to research pilot in 20 hospitals , February 10, 2013 , Ministry of Public Health

Conclusion

Disabled youth in Thailand are often intellectually disabled. This is something that can be avoided by providing sufficient nutrition and knowledge of preventive measures. Prevention can be assisted by the government and relevant agencies who can help by giving their support in order to solve the problem of youth disability in Thailand.

References

 

Group 4

ECS485 B01 Current Economic Problems and Issues by School of Economics and Public Polity Srinakharinwirot University The members of Group 4 are:

• Upper Left : Mr.Worachai Sahawatchareechok
• Upper Middle : Mr.Supapong Tunsuparp
• Upper Right : Mr.Vuthiphong Boonyanantkij
• Lower Left : Mr.Yasunori Hatanaka
• Lower Middle : Mrs.Passachon Pongkidkaroon
• Lower Right : Mr.Wissarutt Mikosum