Vol. 12, Issue 1, Part A (2026)

Disability is a major public health issue, with rural populations often disproportionately affected. Arai Village in Poonch District, Jammu & Kashmir, has shown a high concentration of disability cases, suggesting potential clustering. To assess the epidemiological distribution and etiological factors associated with disability clustering in Arai Village. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a house-to-house survey of all permanent residents. Data on demographics, disability type, severity and etiological factors were collected through a pre-tested interview schedule. Chi-square tests were used to examine associations, with significance set at p<0.05. Among 86 cases, the highest prevalence was in the 21-40 years age group (30.2%) with male predominance (57.0%). Physical disabilities were most common (36.0%) and 67.4% of cases were moderate or severe. Significant etiological factors included consanguineous marriage, family history, poor maternal health, inadequate antenatal care and exposure to environmental toxins (p<0.05).
Disability clustering in Arai Village is influenced by genetic, maternal and environmental factors. Targeted interventions such as maternal health improvement, genetic counselling and community-based rehabilitation are essential to reduce the disability burden and improve quality of life.