59% of Disabilities Stem from Diseases: Here Are the Types

The Indonesian Ministry of Health's (Kemenkes) findings in the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (SKI) reveal that disability is caused by several factors.

This disability encompasses visual, auditory, and ambulatory impairments in the population aged 15 and above.

The majority, or 59%, of respondents attributed their disability to illness. Another 26% cited accidents, injuries, or violence; 14% attributed it to congenital disorders; and 1% did not know.

Based on the origin of the illness, a larger proportion of respondents experienced illness or congenital disorders (46.9%). The next largest cause was hypertension, with a proportion of 22.2%.

Stroke accounted for 20.2%; cataracts, 19.5%; diabetes, 10.5%; and cancer, 0.6%.

Kemenkes calculated that 53.5% of these illnesses are classified as non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs are caused by a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, behavioral, and nutritional factors.

(Read also: [NTB, the Province with the Highest Number of Non-Communicable Disease Screenings in 2023](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/09/27/ntb-provinsi-yang-paling-banyak-melakukan-skrining-penyakit-tidak-menular-2023))

Kemenkes highlights hypertension and diabetes, which have a relatively high prevalence in Indonesia. The prevalence of hypertension was recorded at 34.1% in the 2018 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas), decreasing to 30.8% in the 2023 SKI.

Meanwhile, the prevalence of diabetes increased from 10.9% in the 2018 Riskesdas to 11.7% in the 2023 SKI.

"Hypertension and diabetes are of particular concern due to their high prevalence and their role as major risk factors for cardiovascular disease," wrote Kemenkes in its report, quoted on Thursday (27/6/2024).

The 2023 SKI is a follow-up study to the 2018 Riskesdas, conducted by Kemenkes in collaboration with the Health Development Policy Agency (BKPK).

Data collection methods involved interviews, measurements, and examinations. The majority, or approximately 75%, of the key health indicators collected in 2007, 2013, and 2018 were re-measured in 2023, with the addition of new indicators.

(Read also: [Prevalence of Obesity Higher in Women than Men in Indonesia](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2024/01/13/prevalensi-obesitas-perempuan-lebih-tinggi-dari-laki-laki-di-indonesia))