Profile of Patients Seeking Disability Certification in a Rural District of Kashmir: An Observational Study

Introduction: Mental health conditions constitute a significant portion of disability burden worldwide. Despite the implementation of various rights-based progressive legislations in India, disability in general and mental health disabilities in particular remain highly stigmatized. Aim: We aimed to study the sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients receiving disability certification in a rural population after the abrogation of Article 370 when the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act came into force. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Disability Certification Board, District Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir, over a period of 6 months from October 2022 to March 2023. A total of 158 consecutive applicants were included using total enumeration sampling. Data were extracted from disability certification records, including sociodemographic details, clinical diagnoses, Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale scores, and IQ assessments where applicable. Results: A total of 158 certificates were issued in the time of 6 months. The majority of the patients were male, illiterate, and belonged to below-poverty line socioeconomic status. Intellectual developmental disorder (IDD) was the most common diagnosis. Conclusion: The study highlights the predominance of IDD and severe mental illness among those seeking certification, with poor awareness and underutilization of available disability benefits, especially in rural populations.