Understanding Health Inequalities Among Persons with Intellectual Disabilities: A Social Justice Analysis in the Light of Ambedkar Thought
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Abstract
Persons with intellectual disabilities continue to face severe health inequalities shaped by structural injustice, stigma, and exclusion. Recent global estimates indicate that nearly 1.3 billion people (about 16% of the world population) live with disabilities, many experiencing poorer health outcomes and limited access to healthcare services. The World Health Organization reports that persons with disabilities are more likely to encounter barriers such as unaffordable care, lack of trained professionals, and discrimination. This study, based on secondary data including Census 2011 and recent global reports (2023–2025), examines the health status of persons with intellectual disabilities through the lens of social justice. Drawing on the ideas of B. R. Ambedkar, the study argues that inequality in healthcare is a reflection of broader social exclusion. The findings highlight that achieving health equity requires not only policy interventions but also transformation in social attitudes, institutional structures, and access to resources.
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