- The second leading cause is comprised of war, trauma, and accidents. 
   - The most common type of accident is road accidents.
- Disabilities like cerebral palsy result from poor quality of perinatal care.
- Other causes of disability include malnutrition.
   - Vitamin A, iron, and iodine deficiencies. 
- Chronic medical conditions such as rheumatic diseases and diabeties 

Cedarville University

The WHO (World Health Organization) reported that infectious disease was one of the most significant causes of disability in Africa. Some of the most common communicable diseases include malaria, polio, leprosy, tuberculosis, trachoma, otitis media, meningitis. and various parasitic diseases. In developed countries many of these diseases have been greatly reduced to health care and vaccinations but these diseases remain leading causes of disability in LICs.

The resulting impact of Infectious and Communicable Diseases in people with disabilities in Africa.

Debra L Cameron, PhD OT (Reg) and others, Children with disabilities in low-income countries, Paediatrics & Child Health, Volume 10, Issue 5, 5/6 2005, Pages 269–272, https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/10.5.269

Children with disabilities in low-income countries 

Other leading causes of disabilities in Africa

Many causes of disabilities in LICs and less developed countries are preventable, but cannot be treated due to a lack of healthcare. Meanwhile, many countries with well-developed healthcare systems have  have experienced a significant decrease in these preventable causes. 

For example, the polio vaccine significantly decreased the impact of the polio epidemic, leading to the perceived eradication of the disease. If the vaccine was created at a later time, would we continue to see high rates of preventable disabilities? 

It also leads to the question, why aren't these developed countries providing aid? If these causes of disability are preventable, surely they there is some form of aid that is possible. It is frustrating that LICs could have a decreased rate of disabilities, but there is a lack of activism towards prevention from the government and other countries.

Learn Before

Related