Disability in Vietnam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Disability in Vietnam is relatively common compared to the overall population. As of 2009[update], an estimated 6.1 people, or 7.8% of the population, over the age of 5 years, lived with one or more disabilities.[1] Other estimates by non-profit organizations place this number higher, at up to 15.3%.[2]
Social stigma
The first national law, the Vietnam National Law on Disability, guaranteeing the rights of people with disabilities in Vietnam was passed in 2010.[3][4] Vietnam also participates in the Biwako Framework, an outline for societies to become more inclusive in the Asia-Pacific region.[5] On 28 November 2014, the National Assembly of Vietnam ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.[3] The national law, the Labour Code of 2012, and the National Action Plan to Support People with Disabilities all emphasize equal access to employment and education for people with disabilities.[2]
A contributing factor to disabilities in Vietnam is parental exposure to Agent Orange, a herbicide used by the American military during the Vietnam War (in Vietnam called the American War), that led to birth defects and neurological impairments.[5] Disability prevalence in Vietnam is higher than what is typically observed in other countries and this number increases in Agent Orange hot spots, such as the city of Da Nang.[2]
In Vietnam, having a disability is often viewed as a consequences of the sins of a parent or ancestor, and the disability of a child is viewed by the parents as a misfortune.[6] This view also contributes to the social stigmatization of mothers of children with disabilities, who sometimes face social isolation and on average have small social networks than their peers. The belief that disability is caused by ghosts is more common in rural Vietnam.[2]
