Disability in Iran

The majority of the world’s population lives in less-developed countries where, because of limited resources, there are challenges and a great paucity of epidemiological profile of disability and impairments at the community level, and lives and quality of life of disabled individuals are largely unknown to us. Poverty in many of those countries likely exacerbates the daunting challenges of disability in the population. The lack of information about disability should draw the attention of public health authorities as it is expected that one in six of individuals suffering of significant disability according to the world Health Organization [1]. Data collection, improvement of the diagnostic and monitoring systems, and quality investigations on disabilities in those developing areas is, therefore, of great importance. This will enable public health system to have access to the valid data and accurate information, effective management, planning and evaluation of the prevention programmes, policy making, and estimation the essential needs for future and forecast and scenarios. Cross-sectional and prevalence studies, in a regular periodic basis, are of initial requirements to achieve those holistic goals for the management of disabilities in the population.