World News from Spain

"A society where everyone, regardless of background or disability, feels welcome, included and supported"

Researchers: Women Live Longer But Have Greater Disabilities

(Barcelona, Ayinde O. Chase, AHN News Editor, 05.07.10)Researchers have found that despite women having a longer life expectancy, they experience more disabilities in old age than men.

"We focused on a socioeconomic position factor such as educational level and health factors such as limitations to daily activity. By studying this relationship we were able to see the social inequalities in dependency," said Albert Espelt, lead author of the study and a researcher at the Public Health Agency of Barcelona.

The study found differences in limitations according to socioeconomic position. However the prevalence of disability in people over 64 increased among women but not among men. During the period of the study, disability was also rated in 30 percent of men and 53 percent in women. In other words, it increased among the most elderly women.

Espelt continued by saying, "The double burden of work that women experience throughout their lives (domestic work and work outside the home) is a key factor in explaining this difference in different studies."

The study attributes domestic work as being less rewarding than working outside the home. Researchers speculate that leads to a greater prevalence of non-fatal diseases such as musculoskeletal problems and depression.

The study in its entirety can be read in the latest issue of the Journal of Women's Health

Source: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/

Students’ lesson about disability

The Euroweekly News Group

(ESTEPONA) MORE than 250 students from different schools participated in the third programme on disability called ‘Estepona – city without barriers’. A total of 1,063 questionnaires were answered among educational centres in the town to find out what they thought about the disabled and 38 talks laid on about the subject between schools and colleges in the area.

A council spokesman said the aim of the campaign was to give students ‘an objective and correct view of the world of disability’ especially as this information was put across by professionals.

The Social Welfare department was also involved in taking students to museums as well as giving free access to centres of national heritage to disabled and elderly citizens.

Estepona social welfare head, David Valadez, said these initiatives were ‘an attempt to educate people on values and put an end to barriers’. And he said the effort made was reflected by the disability award received by Estepona Council only last year.

Source www.euroweeklynews.com