Media Release

Mangaluru, Aug 23: A recent study published in the WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health (WHO-SEAJPH) on ‘measuring access and need towards assistive technology in the coastal districts of Karnataka’ highlighted the critical needs and patterns of assistive technology in the coastal belt of Mangaluru and Udupi. This further sets the tone for state governments to implement at scale policies focusing on geriatric care and the need of assistive technology in ageing processes.

Dr Edmond Fernandes stated that Assistive Technologies (AT), including hearing aids, walking aids, prostheses, and spectacles, are essential for improving the quality of life and enabling individuals to lead dignified lives. He stated that this study brings forth critical gaps and patterns of usage patterns of Assistive Technologies (AT) in the coastal regions of Karnataka, India. The survey involved a comprehensive population-based survey of 500 households, with 250 from Mangaluru and 250 from Udupi and the average age of participants in the study was 34.3 years.

The key findings of the study are as follows:

1. 30.6% of participants reported using assistive products, with 27.25% using one product and 3.3 % using two or more assistive products.
2. A significant 89.53% of assistive products were sourced from the private sector, while only 4.07% came from the public sector. About 93.6% of payments for products were made through out of pocket by the users or through family and friends, only 3.20% by government and 0.87% by NGO or charity.
3. The need for AT was assessed for six domains of activities, including mobility, seeing, hearing, communication, remembering, and self-care. Some difficulty (but not higher levels) was reported for any domain among 32.87% of the study participants, while the higher level of difficulty (a lot or cannot do without AT) was reported for any domain by 5.31% of the study participants.
4. Difficulty in performing daily activities increased with age, indicating a higher need for AT among older individuals.
5. 301 participants reported out-of-pocket expenditure for assistive products, with an average annual expense of Rs 2226.05 (S.D. 2204).
6. 7.7% reported an unmet need for assistive products, with spectacles, orthoses (spinal), and therapeutic footwear being the most commonly needed but unmet assistive products.

The study underscores the urgent need for policies that must focus on geriatric care to address functional difficulties among older adults. Additionally, there is a critical need to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for assistive products through public-private partnerships, ensuring wider access to these essential technologies.

The authors, Ramachandra Kamath, Edmond Fernandes, Neevan D’Souza, Glory Ghai, and Surekha R Kamath, suggest that national governments need to invest in social policy protection and social inclusion to support AT needs in the future centering around geriatric populations as the world is collectively ageing. The research was led by researchers at the Edward & Cynthia Institute of Public Health (ECIPH) – Advanced Technical Cooperation Center with Yenepoya Deemed to be University supported by the All India Institute of medical sciences, New Delhi and World Health Organization – South East Asia Regional Office.