Persons with functional difficulty posted at 12.1 percent 

Of the 2.88 million household population five years old and over in the MIMAROPA Region as of 12:01 a.m. of 01 May 2020, about 347.1 thousand persons in the region had at least one domain of functional difficulty. That is, more than three in every 25 persons or 12.1 percent has at least one of any of the six functional domains of seeing, hearing, walking or climbing steps, remembering or concentrating, self-caring (washing all over or dressing) or communicating. (Figure 1) 

The prevalence of the region’s household population with at least one domain of functional difficulty is higher than the prevalence at the national level at 8.7 percent. By looking at the prevalence of functional difficulty by sex, it was seen that more women (13.1 percent) than men (10.8 percent) had functional difficulty in at least one domain.

More women than men have at least one domain of functional difficulty 

Of the 347.1 thousand household population aged five years and over with at least one domain of functional difficulty in the MIMAROPA Region, women accounted for 54.5 percent, while men comprised the remaining 45.5 percent. These figures resulted in a sex ratio of 84 men for every 100 women with at least one domain of functional difficulty. (Figure 2) 

Women out-proportioned men in all domains of functional difficulty except on functional communication. Sex differential was most pronounced among those with functional difficulty in remembering and concentrating where women had 59.1 percent share and men got 41.9 percent share. This was followed by those with functional difficulty in seeing where women got 56.1 percent share while men had only 43.9 percent.  (Figure 3) 

A 5.2 percentage point sex difference in favor of women was noted among those with functional difficulty in self-caring (52.6 percent were women and 47.4 percent were men). Moreover, a narrower sex difference was seen among those with functional difficulty in walking at 4.7 percentage points (52.2 percent were women and  47.8 percent were men). The smallest sex differential of 3.8 percentage points was observed among those with functional difficulty in hearing (51.9 percent were females and 48.1 percent were males). 

On the other hand, 50.2 percent out of 22,694 household population ages five years old and over with functional communication difficulty were males while 49.8 percent were females. 

Difficulty in seeing, even when wearing glasses, is the most common domain of functional difficulty 

Of the 347.12 thousand MIMAROPAns with at least one domain of functional difficulty, 189.1 thousand or 79.8 percent reported having difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses. Of these, women outnumbered men with 56.1 percent share and with a corresponding sex ratio of 80 men per 100 women with functional difficulty in seeing. (Table 1) 

Household population five years old and over with difficulty in walking or climbing steps and those with difficulty in hearing, even when using a hearing aid followed at 22.3 percent and 21.4 percent, respectively. In the region, women got 52.2 percent share to those with difficulty in walking or climbing steps and 51.9 percent share to those with difficulty in hearing. 

Meanwhile, those with difficulty in self-caring was the least common functional difficulty in the region as reported by 22,211 MIMAROPAns (6.4 percent) and 52.6 of which were women. Difficulty in communicating using usual/customary language as reported by 22,694 MIMAROPAns was next with women comprising 49.8 percent. 

Almost nine in every ten persons have mild functional difficulty 

Of the 347.12 thousand MIMAROPAns with at least one domain of functional difficulty, 85.8 percent were reported to have mild cases, 10.8 percent had moderate cases, and 3.4 percent had severe cases. 

Mild case was the highest among those with functional difficulty in seeing at 254,491 cases. This was followed by those with difficulty in hearing (63,451 cases), difficulty in walking or climbing steps (59,660 cases), and difficulty in remembering or concentrating (56,702 cases). 

Among moderate cases, those with functional difficulty in seeing were also the highest at 20,023 cases. This was followed by those with difficulty in walking or climbing steps (12,713 cases) and those with difficulty in hearing (8,645 cases). 

Meanwhile, severe cases of functional difficulty, on the other hand, were highest among those with difficulty in self-caring (5,640 cases), followed by those with difficulty in walking or climbing steps (5,063 cases), and difficulty in communicating (4,118 cases). 

Severe cases of functional difficulty are most prevalent among female senior citizens 

Severe cases of functional difficulty were most common among senior citizens  (60 years old and over) and children aged 5 to 19. Of the 11,893 severe cases of functional difficulty, persons aged 80 years and above posted the highest prevalence rate (2,183 cases or 18.4 percent). By sex, the prevalence rate in this age group  80 years and over was more pronounced among women (26.3 percent) than among men (10.1 percent). (Figure 4)

The next highest prevalence rate of severe cases were observed in the age groups  75 to 79 years old (826 cases or 6.9 percent) and 70 to 74 years old (822 cases or  6.9 percent). Prevalence rate in these age groups were higher in women (7.5 percent and 7.3 percent, respectively) than men (6.4 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively). 

Severe cases in children aged 5 to 9 years (869 cases or 7.3 percent) were also noted. However, the prevalence rate of severe cases among persons in this age group  was higher among men (492 or 8.5 percent) than among women (377 cases or  6.2 percent). 

Of the total 37,536 moderate cases, MIMAROPAns aged 80 years and over posted the highest prevalence rate at 5,824 cases (15.5 percent). This was followed by  those belonging in the following age groups: 70 to 74 years old with 4,001 cases  (10.7 percent), 65 to 69 years old with 3,932 cases (10.5 percent), 60 to 64 years old with 3,813 cases (10.2 percent), and 75 to 79 years old with 3,734 cases (9.9 percent).  By sex, the prevalence rate of moderate cases among the female elderly population was higher than male elderly population aged 70 years old and over. However, the men had a higher prevalence rate among those below 70 years old than women. (Figure 5) 

On the other hand, mild cases of functional difficulty were observed to be highest among persons aged 45 to 69 years. Persons 50 to 54 years old posted the highest prevalence rate at 12.9 percent, followed by the following age groups:  55 to 59 years old (12.7 percent), 60 to 64 years old (12.6 percent), 45 to 49 years old (11.2 percent), and 60 to 69 years old (10.3 percent).  By sex, the prevalence rate of mild cases was slightly higher among men than among women in the said age groups. (Figure 6) 

TECHNICAL NOTES 

I.          Introduction 

The Philippine Statistics Authority conducted the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH) in September 2020, with 01 May 2020 as reference date. 

The 2020 CPH was the 15th census of population and 7th census of housing that was undertaken in the Philippines since the first census in 1903. It was designed to take inventory of the total population and housing units in the country and collect information about their characteristics. 

The Philippine Standard Geographic Codes as of April 2022 was used for the disaggregation of geographic levels of the 2020 CPH. 

II.         Data Limitation 

The statistics presented in this report were based on the information provided by the respondent or any responsible household member who may provide accurate answers to the questions and give correct information about all the household members; hence, it should be used with caution. 

III.        Methodology 

The population and housing censuses in the Philippines are conducted on a “de jure” basis, wherein a person is counted in the usual place of residence or the place where the person usually resides. The enumeration of the population and collection of pertinent data in the 2020 CPH referred to all living persons as of 01 May 2020. 

Functional Difficulty were asked for household members five years and over. To identify household members who have functional difficulty, the respondents were asked, “Does _______ have difficulty…?”. It is instructed to read out each kind of functional difficulty one by one: 

1. seeing, even if wearing eyeglasses? 
2. hearing, even if using a hearing aid? 
3. walking or climbing steps? 
4. remembering or concentrating? 
5. self-caring (such as washing all over or dressing)? 
6. communicating using his/her usual (customary) language? 

IV.        Concepts and Definition of Terms 

1.         The Washington Group Short Set on Functioning (WG-SS) 

The 2020 CPH adheres to the Washington Group Short Set on Functioning (WG-SS), which recommended the adoption of the concept of functional difficulty and developed questions that would address the issue of whether or not a person with a disability participates to the same extent as a person without a disability. 

As an extended measure, an additional question recommended by the WG-SS was likewise adopted in the 2020 CPH to uncover a more detailed description of a person’s level of functioning. Thus, an answer scale of functional difficulty – “No difficulty”, “Some difficulty”, “A lot of difficulty”, and “Cannot do it at all” was included in the 2020 CPH to determine the severity of functional difficulty. 

The Short Set on Functioning 

The short set of functioning is comprised of questions on six core functional domains or categories: seeing, hearing, walking, cognition, self- care, and communication.

It is intended to focus the respondent on difficulties he or she may have that are the results of physical or mental health problem/s. Included are difficulties that occur within a health context rather than those caused by a lack of resources. 

Health refers to the general condition of the body or mind with reference to soundness, vitality, and freedom from disease. 

Problem refers to the respondent’s perception of a departure from physical, mental or emotional well-being. This includes specific health problems such as a disease or chronic condition, a missing limb or organ or any type of impairment or physical or psychological symptoms. It also includes more vague disorders not always thought of as health-related such as senility, depression, developmental delay or intellectual impairment, drug dependency, accidental injuries, and others. 

For the purpose of the 2020 CPH, functional difficulty is classified into six core domains or categories, namely: 

a. Difficulty in seeing, even when wearing glasses 

The purpose of this item is to identify persons who have vision difficulties or problems seeing, even when wearing glasses (if they wear glasses). 

Seeing refers to an individual using his/her eyes and visual capacity in order to perceive or observe what is happening around him/her. 

Even when wearing glasses refers to difficulty seeing with glasses if the person has, and uses, them – NOT how vision would be if glasses, or better glasses, were provided or available to the one who needed them. 

Included are problems in: i) seeing things close up or far away, and ii) seeing out of one eye or only seeing directly in front but not to the sides. 

Any problem with vision that the person considers a problem is captured. 

b. Difficulty in hearing, even when using a hearing aid 

The purpose of this item is to identify persons who have some hearing limitations or problems of any kind with their hearing, even when using a hearing aid (if they wear a hearing aid). 

Hearing refers to an individual using his/her ears and auditory (or hearing) capacity in order to know what is being said to him/her or the sounds of activity, including the danger that is happening around him/her. 

Even when using a hearing aid refers to difficulty hearing with a hearing aid if the respondent has, and uses, that device – NOT how hearing would be if hearing aids, or better hearing aids were provided or available to the one who needed them. 

Included are problems in: i) hearing in a noisy or a quiet environment, ii) distinguishing sounds from different sources, and iii) hearing in one ear or both ears. 

Any difficulty with hearing that is considered a problem is captured. 

c. Difficulty in walking or climbing steps 

The purpose of this question is to identify persons who have some limitations or problems of any kind getting around on foot. 

Walking refers to the use of lower limbs (legs) in such a way as to propel oneself over the ground to get from point A to point B. The capacity to walk should be without assistance of any device (wheelchair, crutches, walker, and others) or human. If such assistance is needed, the person has difficulty walking. 

Difficulty in walking includes those resulting from impairments in balance, endurance or other non-musculoskeletal systems, for example, blind people having difficulty walking in an unfamiliar place or deaf people climbing stairs when there is no lighting. 

Included are problems in: i) walking short (about 100 yards/meters) or long distances (about 500 yards/meters),  ii) walking any distance without stopping to rest, and iii) walking up or down steps. 

Any difficulty with walking (whether it is on flat land or up or down steps) that is considered a problem is captured. 

d. Difficulty in remembering or concentrating (cognitive) 

The purpose of this item is to identify persons who have some problems with remembering or focusing attention that contribute to difficulty in doing their daily activities. 

Remembering refers to the use of memory to recall incidents or events. It means the individual can bring to mind or think again about something that has taken place in the past (either the recent past or further back). With younger people, remembering is often associated with storing facts learned in school and being able to retrieve them when needed. 

Remembering should NOT be equated with memorizing or with good or bad memories. 

Concentrating refers to the use of mental ability to accomplish some tasks, such as reading, calculating numbers or learning something. It is associated with focusing on the task at hand in order to complete the task. 

Included are problems in: i) finding one’s way around, being unable to concentrate on an activity or forgetting one’s whereabouts or the date, and ii) problems remembering what someone just said or becoming confused or frightened about most things. 

Any difficulty with remembering, concentrating or understanding what is going on around them that they or family members (if the family member is the respondent) consider a problem is captured. 

Note: Difficulties remembering or concentrating because of common everyday situations such as high workload or stress, or as a result of substance abuse are excluded. 

e. Difficulty with self-care such as washing all over or dressing 

The purpose of this item is to identify persons who have some problems with taking care of themselves independently. 

Washing all over refers to the process of cleaning one’s entire body (usually with soap and water) in the usual manner for the culture. 

The washing activity includes cleaning hair and feet, as well as gathering any necessary items for bathing such as soap or shampoo, a wash cloth or water. 

Dressing refers to all aspects of putting clothing or garments on the upper and lower body, including the feet if culturally appropriate. 

Included are the acts of gathering clothing from storage areas such as closet, dressers, securing buttons, tying knots, zipping, and others. 

Washing and dressing represent tasks that occur on a daily basis and are considered basic, universal activities. 

f. Difficulty in communicating using usual (customary) language 

The purpose of this item is to identify persons who have some problems with talking, listening, or understanding speech such that it contributes to difficulty in making themselves understood to others or understanding others. 

Communicating refers to a person exchanging information or ideas with other people through the use of language. 

Communication difficulties can originate in numerous places in the exchange process. It may involve mechanical problems such as hearing impairment or speech impairment, or it may be related to the ability of the mind to interpret the sounds that the auditory system is gathering and to recognize the words that are being used or an inability of the mind to compose a sentence or say a word even when the person knows the word and sentence. 

 Included is the use of the voice for the exchange or using signs (including sign language) or writing the information to be conveyed. Included are problems making oneself understood, or problems understanding other people when they speak or try to communicate in other ways. 

Note: Difficulty in understanding or being understood due to nonnative or unfamiliar language is not included. 

Note that the inclusion of assistive devices in the aforementioned domains was considered only in two domains – seeing and hearing, as limitations in these domains can often be easily overcome with the use of glasses or hearing aids, the use of which is common in most countries. 

Functional Difficulty Status Indicators 

Each question has four response categories, as follows: 

The response categories capture the full spectrum of functioning from mild to severe. 

Using the WG-SS to define the category, with at least one functional difficulty includes those who responded with either “some difficulty”, “a lot of difficulty” or “cannot do it at all” to at least one of the six WG-SS questions. 

On the other hand, without functional difficulty includes all those who responded only “no difficulty” to all six of the WG-SS questions. 

Functional Difficulty Severity Indicators Based on the Level (Severity) of Difficulty 

Severity labels are assigned based on the degree of difficulty indicated in the response option selected: 

1. those who responded “cannot do it at all” to any functioning domain are labeled severe, 
2. those who responded with “a lot of difficulty” are labeled moderate, and 
3. those who responded with “some difficulty” are labeled mild.

2.         Definition of Terms 

Household is a social unit consisting of a person or a group of persons who sleep in the same housing unit and have a common arrangement in the preparation and consumption of food. 

Household population refers to all persons who are members of the household. 

Sex is the biological and physiological reality of being a male or female. 

Age refers to the interval of time between the person’s date of birth and his/her last birthday prior to the census reference date. It is expressed in completed years or whole number. 

V.         Dissemination of Results 

The 2020 CPH special release and statistical tables are publicly available at the PSA website, https://psa.gov.ph/population-and-housing.