Table 2.
Characteristics of included studies.
| Variable | Category | No. | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Latin America/Caribbean | 12 | 24 |
| East Asia/Pacific | 6 | 12 | |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 15 | 30 | |
| Middle east | 2 | 4 | |
| South Asia | 6 | 12 | |
| Europe/Central Asia | 1 | 2 | |
| Various | 8 | 16 | |
| Income level | Low | 8 | 16 |
| Lower middle | 17 | 34 | |
| Upper middle | 17 | 34 | |
| Mixed | 8 | 16 | |
| Location | Urban | 15 | 30 |
| Rural | 4 | 8 | |
| Both | 24 | 48 | |
| Unclear | 7 | 14 | |
| Decade of publication | 1990 | 1 | 2 |
| 2000 | 8 | 16 | |
| 2010 | 41 | 82 | |
| Study design | Cross-sectional | 37 | 74 |
| Case-control study | 13 | 26 | |
| Outcome measured | Utilisation | 20 | 40 |
| Coverage | 22 | 44 | |
| Expenditure | 8 | 16 | |
| Insurance | 5 | 10 | |
| Adherence | 3 | 6 | |
| Barriers | 8 | 16 | |
| Quality | 3 | 6 | |
| Age group | All ages (includes >5 years; >4 years) | 9 | 18 |
| Adults only (>18 years) | 17 | 34 | |
| Older adults (>40 years; >50 years; >60 years) | 11 | 22 | |
| Children only (0–18 years) | 10 | 20 | |
| Unclear age/not presented | 3 | 6 | |
| Disability domain | Visual impairment | 11 | 22 |
| Hearing impairment | 15 | 30 | |
| Physical impairment | 15 | 30 | |
| Mental impairment | 24 | 48 | |
| Functional difficulties * | 24 | 48 | |
| Assistance with activities of daily living | 3 | 6 | |
| Other (communication, sensory, albinism) | 3 | 6 | |
| Multiple domains | 19 | 38 |
* Typically includes difficulties with hearing, vision, walking, self-care, communicating, and remembering or concentrating.