How is disability represented in contemporary public health research literature?
Rene I. Jahiel, MDPhD and Deborah B. Jahiel, BS. President, International Health Policy Research, 24 Park Place (#17K), Hartford, CT 06106, 860-951-0659, jahiel@nso2.uchc.edu OBJECTIVE: To assess the number and content of disability-related articles in recent public health research literature. METHOD: Research articles in American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), Public Health Reports, Canadian Journal of Public Health, and Public Health from 1992 through 2000 are classified as dealing with impairment only or disability (activity limitation) and handicap (participation restriction) and with social environment as factor creating disability. This is based on their dependent and independent variables and units of analysis. RESULTS: Among 1636 AJPH papers examined, 160 (9.8%) had disability content, exclusive of internal organ impairments, HIV or substance abuse. 108 (6.6%) dealt with impairment(54 in 1992-1996, and 54 in 1997-2000) and 52(3.2%) dealt with activity limitation or participat
