Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 7(2), pp. 84 - 99
DOI: 10.13189/sa.2019.070204
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Physical Disabilities in Post-war Jaffna Society- Evidences by Factor and Cluster Analyses

C. Elankumaran ^*
Department of Economics, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

This study, which was carried out in 2014, focuses on the nature of physical health conditions in post-war Jaffna society. This is a follow-up study of the original study named "Jaffna Socioeconomic Health Study 1999" (JSEHS-1999). The subjects of the study were husbands or / and wives of both single parent and two parents families. The sample followed in this study is the same as the 1121 families of JSEHS-1999. However, altogether 1036 families from the original study have responded. The original sample drawn in JSEHS was drawn using two-stage stratified sampling technique. An interviewer-administrated questionnaire, similarly prepared with modification to the present situation, was employed to collect follow-up data and information on physical disability measures. In the present study, the general measure of physical fitness or disability employed was "mobility measure" that includes "Walking Conditions" and "Travelling Conditions". The specific measures of physical disabilities were formulated in five dimensions, that are, "Behavior Disability", "Communication Disability", "Personal Care Disability", "Body Disposition Disability" and "Situational Disability". Socio-Economic variables employed to review the background were "Occupational Levels", "Per Capita Income", "Per Capita Expenditure", "Per Capita Energy Consumption" and "Per Capita Protein Consumption". The data collected on these variables were coded or categorized according to the requirement of Statistical Analysis in this study. Exploratory data analysis, Factor analysis, Cluster Analysis, Canonical correlation analysis and Canonical variate analysis were adopted to extract results in this study. The walking and travelling conditions of the parents have not shown any adverse effects in this post-war scenario. This study reports, a severe effect in Behavioral Disability which is validated by a major factor "Disability in Self-awareness and knowledge acquisition" of 23% explanation. Further, this study reports a considerable effect in Communication Disability which is validated by a major factor "Disability in Writing and Symbolic Communication" of 22% explanation. The effect in Personal Care Disability is minimal, however two major factors "Disability in personal hygiene, clothing and feeding" for husbands and wives respectively shown 20% and 18% explanation. It is also reported that moderate effects in Body Disposition and Situational Disabilities are seen validated by two major factors "Disability in Household activity, Dependence & Environment" for husbands and wives each having 22% explanations. Valid gender specific disability situations are also reported as found by factor analysis with higher percentage of explanations. Canonical correlation analysis revealed that all the above described disability measures under combined dimensions are highly or moderately correlated which show meaningful disability analysis with validated results. Further, socioeconomic influences are also highlighted in various physical disabilities using Canonical Variate analysis and Cluster analysis to form meaningful clusters of couples or families indicating distinctions by socioeconomic influences.

KEYWORDS
Mobility Measure, Behavior Disability, Communication Disability, Personal Care Disability, Body Disposition Disability, Situational Disability, Socioeconomic Impacts, Factor Analysis, Cluster Analysis

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] C. Elankumaran , "Physical Disabilities in Post-war Jaffna Society- Evidences by Factor and Cluster Analyses," Sociology and Anthropology, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 84 - 99, 2019. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2019.070204.

(b). APA Format:
C. Elankumaran (2019). Physical Disabilities in Post-war Jaffna Society- Evidences by Factor and Cluster Analyses. Sociology and Anthropology, 7(2), 84 - 99. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2019.070204.