Prevalence and access to disability inclusive social protection services in Somalia: status, gaps, and policy implications (a secondary re-analysis of survey data).

Introduction: persons with disabilities are among the most marginalised groups in Somali society. This paper provides evidence-based information on the prevalence, characteristics of disability, and barriers to disability-inclusive social protection services in Somalia. Methods: the paper is based on a secondary re-examination of data from the Somalia Integrated Household Budget Survey (2022) of 7,212 households. Results: disability prevalence in Somalia was estimated at 16.2% with the most common being physical impairment, affecting 9.8% of the population. The at-risk groups were the elderly population and children. Regionally, disability prevalence was highest in Banadir State: 21.5%. Enrollment rates in social protection schemes were relatively low: 15% of surveyed households. Access to disability-specific services and specialists was generally limited across all disability types, with vision screening being the most accessed service and learning screening being the least accessed service. Access to assistive devices is also very low, with only 4% of people with disabilities who need them receiving them. Access to social protection delivery systems, such as phone, internet, and bank accounts, was also low <20% for each service. Conclusion: the study reveals a high prevalence of disability and low access to social protection and disability-specific services in Somalia, especially among women, rural residents, older people, and those affected by conflict. The study indicates a need for comprehensive disability data collection that reflects the diverse needs and barriers to reinforcing disability-inclusive policy frameworks faced by persons with disabilities in Somalia.