China's population health in a period of economic development and social transformation: risk factors and prevention of disability

Shan Lan, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Weiwen Zhou, Population Research Center of Hebei Province
Jianhua Hou, Instititude of Sociology, Hebei Academy of Social Sciences

A comparative data analysis of two national sample surveys on China's population health showed that, the number of Chinese people with disability in the total population experienced a growth from 4.9% in 1987 to 6.34% in 2006. From the type of disability perspective, physically disabled and mentally disabled showed significant growth trends. Most disabilities were found late,in age 50s. National sample survey shows the disabled reason composition. The increased reasons are senile diseases, mental illness, genetic factors and production factors. More than 50 percent of the disabilities can be prevented. In the period of rapid economic development and social transformation, the risk of disability is apparently increased. Reducing the risk factors of social disability can effectively reduce the incidence. Disability prevention should focus on five areas: the group of elderly,the group working in a high-risk environment,the low education group,the crowd of extreme poverty and the crowd concealed mental illness.