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This report uses data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) to analyze transitions in disabilities and employment from 1992 to 1994, the first two waves of the HRS survey. The survey included people ages 51 to 61 years of age in 1992, resulting in 8,737 participants. The report estimates the incidence of disabilities from 1992 to 1994 and explores the effect that developing a disability has on maintaining employment. Results of the survey indicate: (1) the prevalence of disability increased from 28.6 percent in 1992 to 30.4 percent in 1994; (2) disability was associated with lower employment rates and persistent disability was associated with the lowest employment rates; (3) among all respondents, employment rates declined from 69.9 percent in 1992 to 63.6 percent in 1994, and people who developed disability experienced a substantial decline in employment rates at 25.2 percent; (4) people with disability in both 1992 and 1994 who were not employed in 1992 reported low rates (61 percent) of job entrance; and (5) the effect of disability on employment was greater for men than for women and for racial/ethnic minorities than for whites. (Contains 10 references.) (CR)

This statistical digest presents data on the prevalence of disabling conditions among the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Data were obtained from the National Health Interview Survey, consisting of 49,401 household interviews with 128,412 people in 1992. Disability is defined as a limitation in social or other activity that is caused by a chronic mental or physical disorder, injury, or impairment. The digest concludes that approximately 38 million Americans report a total of 61 million disabling conditions. It notes that heart disease and back problems are the two most common causes of disability and that injuries cause 13.4 percent of all disabling conditions. The text reports on the classification method used, which distinguishes among impairments, disorders, and injuries. Table 1 lists conditions causing disability by the broad categories of the International Classification of Diseases. Table 2 lists the most common health conditions and impairments that cause activity limitation. (DB)

Based on the 1990 Core Questionnaire and Family Resources Supplement of the National Health Interview Survey, involving 108,815 individuals, this report presents estimates of the prevalence of disability in families, selected demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and utilization of health services by families with and without members with disabilities. Specifically, the data focus on living arrangements of individuals with and without disabilities, family type, probabilities of couples with disabilities living together, probabilities of householders with disability having children with disabilities, family size and disability, race and Hispanic ethnicity, age, educational attainment, income levels, health insurance, physician contacts, and hospitalization. Findings of the report indicate: (1) an estimated 20.3 million families have at least one member with a disability; (2) the family disability rate is 28.5 percent among partnered families and 32.1 percent among single-householder families; (3) when a family has a member with a disability, that member is most likely to be a householder; (4) some 3.8 million families contain one or more children with disabilities; (5) the rate of disability is 29.1 percent for white families, 31.9 percent for black families, and 21.7 percent for other races; (6) the highest observed poverty rates by disability status are among single-householder families with two or more children with disabilities; and (7) families with members with disabilities have significantly higher than average numbers of hospital days. Detailed tables of the statistical data are included and an appendix contains standard errors for the detailed tables. (Contains 15 references.) (CR)

This report presents, in text and 13 tables, data obtained from 128,412 paricipants in the 1992 National Health Interview Survey concerning the prevalence of disability, as measured by limitation in activity caused by chronic health disorders, injuries, and impairments. Prevalence estimates are presented in tables for various population subgroups, characterized by gender, age, race and Hispanic ethnicity, education level, family income level, poverty status, marital status, region, metropolitan status, presence of telephone in household, and chronic health condition. The prevalence of limitations in activity, work, self-care, and school is examined, followed by analysis of the conditions causing the limitations, such as visual impairments, paralysis, infectious diseases, congenital anomalies, injury, etc. Some highlights of the data presented in this report include: (1) Of the total U.S. non-institutionalized population, in 1992, 15 percent, or 37.7 million people report some activity limitation due to chronic health conditions; (2) Of the total population aged 5 and older, 4 percent, or about 9.2 million people, report some need for help in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL); (3) Of all children and adolescents aged 5-17, 3.2 percent, or 1.5 million persons, attend special schools or classes; (4) Females report a higher number of activity limiting conditions than males; and (5) Of all conditions reported to cause activity limitation, heart disease ranks first, followed by back disorders, arthritis, orthopedic impairments of the lower extremity, and asthma. (Contains 20 references.) (CR)

This abstract summarizes recent statistics on the prevalence and causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), the populations it affects, and the degree of disability it causes. Estimates are based on 1985-1987 data from the National Health Interview Survey, a household survey of the noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Analysis indicates: the overall incidence rate is 0.8 percent, with young males having the highest incidence rates of any group; an estimated 31 percent of TBI is caused by moving motor vehicles; half of TBI cases are severe enough to cause a disability; firearms are the most common cause of fatality due to TBI; and strategies to reduce TBI should concentrate on youth and younger adults. Three tables provide detailed data on: (1) annual number and incidence rate of TBI cases, by gender and age; (2) annual number and incidence rate of TBI cases, by class of accident and place of accident; and (3) types of injury causing greatest activity limitation. (DB)

This abstract summarizes recent statistics on the prevalence and causes of disability among U.S. children, based on data from the 1992 National Health Interview Survey, a household survey of the noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Analysis indicates that there are difficulties in comparing disability prevalence across age groups; overall, 5.5 percent of children (ages 5-17) have disabilities related to schooling, of whom 58 percent attend special schools or classes; diseases of the respiratory system constitute the most common group of disabling conditions; and children from poor families attend special schools and classes at nearly twice the rate of those who are not poor. Four tables present detailed data on: (1) number and percent of children with disabilities, by degree of limitation and age; (2) number and percent of children with school-related disabilities, by degree of limitation and gender; (3) number and percent of children needing and receiving special education by race, ethnicity, and poverty status; and (4) health conditions and impairments causing disability in children by broad condition category. (DB)

This report presents results of analysis of data from 5,215 noninstitutionalized persons with disabilities as reported in the 1979 and 1980 National Health Interview Survey, Home Care Supplement. Results are reported for the following assistance categories: assistance in basic physical activities; frequency of help in basic physical activities; assistance in selected instrumental activities of daily living; and correlates of assistance needs. A discussion notes that about 43 percent of persons living in the community who need assistance in basic life activities are nonelderly, that women outnumber men in needing assistance, that nonelderly adults are the most likely to use special equipment, and that nonelderly adults needing assistance make the greatest use of physician services. Implications of these findings for life-span planning of services are considered. About 30 tables present detailed data by type of activity or nature of assistance, age groups, sex, chronic health conditions, and how often someone must be present at home. An appendix documents the statistical methodology involved. (DB)