Socio-Economics Characteristics of female-headed households with disabilities: 2009-2011 Puerto Rico Community Survey

Demographic changes indicate an increase in females as head of family in Puerto Rico. The quality of life of these females are affected when they experience disabilities and economic stress. It is found that 27% of females headed households in Puerto Rico has a disability. This descriptive study presents disability and socio-economic characteristics of the population of female heads of family in Puerto Rico using the Puerto Rico Community Survey. Objective: To describe socioeconomic characteristics of female headed household with disabilities in Puerto Rico during the period 2009-2011. Methods: A secondary analysis was done using the United States Census Bureau Puerto Rico Community Survey (2009-2011) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) (n=82153). Frequency analysis was done for selected variables. Results: The female reported to experience hearing difficulty (18.9%), vision difficult (34.3%) and physical activity difficulties (61.2%). Related to educational variables, an 84.7% of females complete a high school degree and 15.3% more than high school. Related to family presence and children age of own, 5.7% of females has children under five and 26.8% have children from 5-17 years old. As a class of worker, 55% indicated to be employee of a private for profit/ nonprofit company, 35.4% in local government and 7.4% self-employed. Bivariate analysis between poverty index and age suggest poverty differences (p value <.0000) among 21-49 versus 50+ years old groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that social and economic status of female headed household in Puerto Rico with disability needs to be address when designing services for the disability population.