Affiliations: Institute of Health Policy and Management (iBMG),
Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands | School of Allied Health Professions, University of
East Anglia, Norwich, UK | Disability Studies Programme, School of Health and
Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Note: [] Corresponding author: J.M. Cramm, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Institute of Health Policy and Management,
Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 6 36109268;
Fax: +31 10 408 9094; E-mail: cramm@bmg.eur.nl
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Disability limits access to education and employment, and
leads to economic and social exclusion. This study compared barriers to
employment among disabled and non-disabled youth in South Africa. METHODS AND PARTICIPANTS: Fieldworkers interviewed 989 youth
[18–35 years; 523 (52.9%) disabled, 466 (47.1%) non-disabled] at nine
sites in five provinces (Gauteng, North West, Kwazulu Natal, Western Cape, Free
State). Differences in employment between disabled and non-disabled youth were
described and logistic regression analyses were used to predict barriers to
employment within both groups. RESULTS: Employment differed between disabled and non-disabled youth
(32.9% vs. 13.1%; p ⩽ 0.001). Lack of job availability and skills were
associated significantly with unemployment among non-disabled youth. For
disabled youth, unemployment was additionally associated with social attitudes
and poor health. CONCLUSIONS: This research showed that disabled youth are facing
more barriers to employment compared to non-disabled youth and that the
unemployment rate among disabled youth is higher. Disabled youth thus faced
additional challenges to employment and special attention must be given to
reduce these barriers.
Keywords: Attitudes, social exclusion, health, skills, unemployment
