A new study published in BMC Public Health explores how disability affects life expectancy across Mexican states.

The research, led by Emerson Augusto Baptista, Tianyu Shen, and Vladimir Canudas-Romo, reveals the complex relationship between disability, gender, and geography. It highlights that 16.5% of Mexico’s population lives with a disability, but the experiences of those affected vary greatly between men and women, and from state to state. Women, particularly in the southern coastal regions, spend significantly more years living with severe disabilities compared to men.

The research suggests that policies targeting these specific regions and the gender divide could help close gaps and improve the well-being of individuals living with disabilities.

Baptista, E.A., Shen, T. & Canudas-Romo, V. Disability and its impact on life expectancy: heterogeneity across Mexican states. BMC Public Health 24, 2776 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20245-x