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A. Hajjioui et al.
in Morocco, after the use of standardized disability
screening tools, such as the WG Short Set of Questions
on Disability, suggests different possible causes, such
as a more limited life-span of people with disabilities
in low- and middle-income countries, due to lack of
access of PWD to appropriate medical care.
Compared with recent surveys in low- and middle-
income countries, based on the WG Short Set of
Questions on Disability, the prevalence of disability
in Morocco is, on average, close to that of Tanzania
(7.8%) (15) and Palestine (7%) (16). It was higher than
in Jordan (2%) (17), Zimbabwe (2.9%) (18), Cambodia
(4%) (19), Myanmar (4.6%) (20), South Africa (4.9%)
(21) and Mozambique (5.8%) (22), and lower than in
Bangladesh (9.07%) (23), Uganda (15.8%) (24) and
Haiti (17.8%) (25).
The current study found a 2.6% prevalence rate of
moderate-to-extreme disability, corresponding to 56,323
persons, when extrapolated to the Moroccan adult
population, aged 18 years and above, and estimated at
22,803,000 persons in 2014 (12). This is comparable
with the mean prevalence rate of significant difficulties,
estimated at 2.2% in the world health survey (1).
Vision and mobility difficulties were the most com-
mon in our population, as reported in many countries
(17, 26), highlighting the need for specific medical
care, assistive devices and adaptation of the environ-
ment in order to improve these persons’ autonomy,
participation and quality of life.
The prevalence of disability was significantly higher
in the older population, reaching 33.2% in persons over
60 years of age, which is consistent with worldwide
disability measures (1), as a result of the dramatic
increase in health risks due to chronic illnesses and
injury related to the ageing process (27). Women had a
slightly higher prevalence of disability in Morocco, as
was reported in the world health survey of 2004 (14).
Women with disabilities are more at risk of low par-
ticipation than men, since they are already faced with
gender disadvantages (28); therefore women should
be given more attention and adequate assistance.
Regarding marital status, disability prevalence was
significantly higher in single than in married persons,
suggesting possible social isolation among some PWD
that would limit their interpersonal relationships and
social skills (29). Moreover, it has been documented
that disability was considered as a disadvantage that
would limit the chances of PWD, and especially wo-
men with disabilities, to get married in low-income
countries (28, 30).
The prevalence of disability was inversely proportio-
nal to educational level, and significantly higher among
unemployed persons, reflecting the lower accessibility
of PWD to education, especially in its higher levels and
to employment in Morocco, as was also documented
in many other places worldwide, both higher-income
and lower-income countries (1, 31). Even if accessi-
bility to education and employment are fundamental
rights of PWD (3), there are still many barriers that
should be addressed in most countries to improve the
participation levels of PWD, both in education and
economic activities.
Regarding geographical disparities, the lowest pre-
valence rate of disability was observed in the region of
Casablanca (R9), representing the most economically
developed region of Morocco and the region with the
highest coverage of medical care provision (12). As
shown on the map (Fig. 2), the prevalence of disability
Fig. 3. Variation trends of disability prevalence rates and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita** in different Moroccan geographical regions.
**Regional estimates of GDP per capita (%) in 2014, according to the Moroccan High Commission for Planning.
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