ABSTRACT
A cross sectional study of the prevalence and etiologic factors of limb paralysis and amputation was performed in Iran. Using systematic cluster sampling [each cluster consisting of 15 families] 59678 people have been evaluated. The sample size was 1 per 1000 of total population. The prevalence of different kinds of paralysis and limb defects was 7 per 1000. Hemiplegia and paraplegia were the most prevalent paralysis accounting for 2.8 per 1000. The prevalence of disabilities due to cerebral palsy, limb amputation and poliomyelitis per 1000 were 2.0, 1.3 and 0.9 respectively. Prevalence of poliomyelitis was zero in age group 0-4, which supports the recent national reports that declared incidence rate of poliomyelitis is very low, and it is the consequence of the vaccination programme undertaken all over the country. 24.5% of all kinds of paralysis and limb amputations were congenital, other etiological factors were physical injury, infectious disease, non-infectious disease and aging which accounted for 25.6%, 15.6%, 28.8% and 3.1% respectively. Prevalence of disabilities due to paraplegia, hemiplegia and limb amputation considerably increase with age so that among people of 65 years old it is 29.0 per 1000. 6.3 per 1000 among men, 2.8 per 1000 among women, 4.9 per 1000 in urban and 4.1 per 1000, in rural areas. Logistic Regression analysis declared that each of the variables "age", "sex" and "living area" separately have significant effect on odds of prevalence of hemiplegia, paraplegia and limb amputation. Considering these Variables concurrently, "age" and "sex" again showed significant effect but "living area" effects through age [p=0.059]