Abstract

Persons with disabilities are often neglected in the social welfare systems, particularly in accessing services. There is a lack of inclusivity and disability mainstreaming of children with disabilities and severe illnesses resulting in unmet needs and widened barriers and disparities which leave this population behind. Furthermore, the challenge of under-reporting and the lack of extensive data on children with disabilities and severe illnesses is a growing concern in South Africa. This may also cause concern for the lack of availability of disability mainstreaming, particularly in the social welfare systems such as the education and health sectors. Often this subset population is left behind and whose needs remain unmet. This study aims to describe the relationship between socioeconomic and demographic factors as one of the social determinants of health in children with disabilities and severe illnesses compared to children with no form of disability. To describe the relationship between access to social welfare services such as education, health, and social assistance as a form of community-based rehabilitation by comparing children with no disability and those with severe illnesses and disabilities. Significance of the study: This study addresses the unmet need for access to social welfare services and the disparities encountered by children with severe illnesses and disabilities compared to children with no form of severe illness or disability. This study describes the role of demographic and socioeconomic indicators as social determinants of health of the epidemics, and it describes the accessibility to social welfare services such as health, education, and social assistance, in the comparison between children with severe illnesses or disabilities compared to children with no form of disability or severe illness.