Mapping gaps and synthesising evidence on impairments assessment in South Asian countries: a scoping review: physical and cognitive impairment in South Asia

Purpose: Despite the considerable health and economic burden of disability in the South Asian (SA) region, there is limited evidence of disability prevalence and the need for Assistive Technologies (ATs). This scoping review aims to synthesize the evidence of the physical and cognitive impairments in SA countries.
Materials and methods: This scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley’s methodological framework. EBSCOhost, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched for original research articles conducted within SA countries. The review included full-text, English-language articles addressing both physical and cognitive impairments, without restrictions on publication date.
Results: This review identified 105 articles distributed over the six impairment domains such as, visual, hearing, mobility, self-care, speaking, and cognitive. Most evidence originated from India (50.5%) and focused on visual impairments (53.3%). The review identified that heterogeneity in methodologies, case identification definitions, and study settings contributed to variations in prevalence estimation and restricted the comparability both within and across countries. Besides, the uneven distribution of studies across countries suggests varying inclinations of countries toward specific impairment domains.
Conclusions: The review identified gaps in understanding AT need, coverage, and demand. Standardized case identification and evidence-based approaches are essential to enhance comparability and minimize response biases.