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Title:
Examining occupational hazards and lifestyle diseases-related disability in Fiji : a case study of Nadi and Lautoka in western province
Untitled
Author:
Devi, Devina Rachana
Institution:
University of the South Pacific.
Award:
M.A. Development Studies
Subject:
Date:
2012
Call No.:
Pac RC 963 .4 .D48 2012
BRN:
1188465
Copyright:
40-60% of this thesis may be copied without the authors written permission
Abstract:
Disability is one of the most neglected development issues in developing countries especially in the Pacific Island Countries. Because documentation on disability, especially in Fiji, is limited, resource managers regard the issue of disability mainstreaming insignificant. The study focuses on the lifestyle diseases and occupational hazards related disability in Fiji. The study employed largely a qualitative research approach and analyzed the socioeconomic implications of disability in Fiji. The absence of disability incidence registration led to the use of the snowball sampling technique in the selection of respondents in the study. The study found clear linkages between poverty and lower educational attainment. Most of the sample of people with disabilities finds it hard to support themselves economically because they have low education levels and are unemployed. Besides social and economic constraints, the formal institutions offer inadequate social protections to people with disabilities. The data collated from the survey established a strong correlation between lifestyles and disease and occupational injuries and increasing incidence of disability in Fiji. About 300 amputations are recorded annually for Western Division in Fiji. This survey found also found that diabetes is one of the major contributing factors to increasing incidence of physical disabilities in Fiji The study concludes that lifestyle diseases and occupational injuries related disability is on the rise particularly in the Western Division of Fiji and a systematic in-depth study is required to collate disability statistics for policy development and preventive measures.
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