Assessing assistive technology needs, unmet demands, barriers, and gaps in the Indian population: a protocol for large epidemiological survey

Abstract

Background: Despite the critical role of assistive technologies (AT) in supporting individuals with functional impairments, there is limited information on AT needs and barriers across India's diverse regions. To fill this gap, we have designed a detailed survey protocol to gather nationally representative data on AT need, unmet need and satisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 180,000 individuals (30,000 per region) across six regions i.e., North, South, East, West, Central, and North-East India will be conduct. Districts will be purposively selected to capture geographic diversity and institutional capacity; within each selected district, villages and urban wards will be chosen with probability proportional to size and households will then be selected by systematic random sampling. All members of each sampled household will be interviewed with the digital WHO Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) tool, after staff complete standard training program; data quality will be ensured through real-time database checks, supervisory cross-checks, and monthly audits by the ICMR coordinating team. Analysis: We will estimate prevalence of AT need, unmet need, and satisfaction with 95 percent confidence intervals using univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify associated factors. Sampling weights and sensitivity analyses will adjust and compare estimates. Discussion: This protocol describes the largest AT needs survey ever conducted in South-East Asia. The data generated will provide crucial evidence to guide India's national AT strategy. By sharing our detailed methodology, we aim to offer a practical framework that other low and middle-income countries can adapt to assess and enhance their own AT services.