Abstract

This study investigates the main features of collected disability statistics for the censuses in Sweden, 1860–1930, when the disability prevalence rose from four to 21 individuals per thousand of the population. We use qualitative methods to analyze the means of collecting, categorizing, and defining disability, while quantitative methods help us calculate the prevalence by disability type and gender in urban and rural areas. Our long-term findings reveal that this increase reflects new approaches whereby authorities applied alternative methods to collect disability data, using additional sources, wider definitions, and introducing new disability categories. The temporal variations in disability prevalence were influenced by the social and political context and normative views on who was considered disabled or not.

摘要

本研究调查了 1860 年至 1930 年瑞典人口普查中收集的残疾统计数据的主要特征，当时残疾率从每千人口 4 人上升到 21 人。我们使用定性方法来分析残疾的收集、分类和定义手段，而定量方法帮助我们计算城乡地区按残疾类型和性别划分的患病率。我们的长期研究结果表明，这种增长反映了当局采用替代方法来收集残疾数据的新方法，使用额外的来源、更广泛的定义并引入新的残疾类别。残疾发生率的时间变化受到社会和政治背景以及关于谁被视为残疾人或非残疾人的规范观点的影响。