A Comparison between Official Classification and an Inclusive Measurement Approach: Investigation into Disability Statistics in Indonesia

Oki MacPherson, University of Southampton

This study addresses significant gaps in official disability statistics. Despite efforts by international bodies, such as the UNCRPD and WHO, to improve disability data collection, the official statistics often fail to reflect the true experiences of individuals with disabilities in Indonesia. This study examines the gap between official disability classifications and a more inclusive measurement approach. Through a mixed-methods approach, this study utilises both secondary quantitative data from the 2023 Indonesia Health Survey (SKI) and primary qualitative data from in-depth interviews with people with disabilities and their families. Initial findings reveal a substantial decline in reported disability prevalence from 22% in 2018 to 5.3% in 2023, which raises questions about data accuracy. Interviews with participants highlight issues such as misclassification and the inadequacy of existing survey questions in capturing the nuanced experiences of disability. This study proposes developing new, context-specific measurement tools that better reflect the lived realities of people with disabilities in Indonesia by integrating the voices of the people into the current discussion of disability measurement. Working closely with those who have experienced disability and whose opinions are the most valuable further emphasises that this research is done with them and not just about them.

Keywords: Health and Morbidity, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Mixed methods research

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