Evaluation of Disability in Birth Defects: A view from the International Classi cation of Functioning (ICF)

Introduction: The concept of disability has evolved throughout history going through the bases of three models that have served as a framework for the evaluation and treatment of disability: the exclusion model, the rehabilitation model, and the social model; which co-exist in different degrees. Because of this coexistence, in society there are still imaginary ideas and beliefs about disability that focus solely on the traits of people and in what they are unable to do. Objective: To evaluate the degree of disability through the International Classfication of Functioning (ICF), in patients with birth defects who attend a high complexity hospital in the city of Cali. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study that included 40 patients (children and adolescents) with birth defects and their functional pro les obtained from the icf. Results: The altered functions that are most frequently reported in the corporal component are the mental; the neuromusculoskeletal and movement; the digestive, metabolic and endocrine system, and the sensorial functions. In the activities and participation component constraints were focused on basic learning, mobility and communication. In the contextual factors component, the health professionals and technology for playful activities were the main facilitators reported. Conclusions: the use of integrated tools such as icf for evaluation, intervention and follow up of patients with birth defects, will allow to consider the phenomenon of disability as a problem of social origin and, mainly, as a matter centered on the inclusion of people in society.