Community inclusion, participation and support for people with disabilities in Zambia: a qualitative study

Background: Recent reports, including recommendations from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, have highlighted failings in disability inclusion in Zambia. A recent scoping review identified need for up-to-date evidence to inform disability-inclusive policy and practice. Objective: To generate new evidence on community inclusion, participation and support for people with disabilities in Zambia. Methods: In-depth interviews were held with 36 participants, including 16 adults with disabilities, 16 caregivers of a child with disabilities, and four key informants from government and civil society. Participants were recruited from three districts in Lusaka Province - Lusaka, Chongwe and Kafue. Participants were purposively sampled to maximise variation by sex, age, impairment type, district and locality (rural, urban, peri-urban). Data collection was completed in November 2022. Results: Key themes from the study identified stigma and discrimination towards people with disabilities, the exclusion of people with disabilities from community life, limited available support and inadequate government action on disability inclusion. There were examples of positive action on disability support, such as the Social Cash Transfer, but implementation needed improvement. Disability-awareness campaigns are widely needed across government and communities, as is funding for organisations such as the Zambia Agency For Persons With Disabilities. Conclusions: Action is needed to improve disability inclusion and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Zambia. This includes appropriate funding, capacity-development and meaningful engagement with people with disabilities and their representative organisations.