Disability-free life expectancy in Kerala: an exploration.

This study made attempt to measure the activity limitation in terms of life expectancy (disability-free life expectancy) of a sample population in Kerala. That is to know the duration of life of people in a healthy state. Primary data were used for the study. A composite index of both mortality and morbidity was found out using life table techniques. The total life expectancy at birth of the sample population was found to be 71.5 years and life expectancy free of disability was 60.2 years. This means that an individual at the time of his/her birth is expected to live 11.3 years in a state of ill health. It is sure that in an ageing population like Kerala this 11.3 years is a long duration because a major part of this disability years will be spent in their older ages. The implications of the findings were very important in health planning. The extended life years could be accompanied by increased demands on health care delivery system as more years of life are spent with a chronic disability. (authors)