The objective of the study was determination of the frequency of occurrence
of selected difficulties associated with disability and social problems which disturb the
functioning of the disabled in rural and urban areas in the Lublin Region. The study was
conducted by trained surveyors with the use of a standardized questionnaire which covered:
1) Demographic data: age, gender, education level and marital status; 2) Information
concerning biological and legal disability, degree of disability, its causes, functional
limitations due to disability; 3) Information pertaining to difficulties and barriers in daily
living of the disabled population. The study covered 403 disabled selected by the method
of targeted sampling – 147 rural and 256 urban inhabitants. Log-linear model was applied
for data analysis. Unfavourable demographic characteristics of the population of the
disabled in the study: mean age 63; high percentage of never-married males and females;
respondents possessing elementary education level; dominant number of those occupationally
inactive. The most frequent limitations associated with disability: limitations in
performing household jobs (70.9%), walking difficulties (68.1%). High intensity of material
difficulties, in association with low education level and high percentage of those
occupationally inactive, are the evidence of socio-economic deprivation of the population
examined. Differences between rural and urban inhabitants was found: in the rural environment,
compared to urban areas, the following were more frequently reported: lack of
possibilities of rehabilitation in the place of residence, difficulties with access to medical
specialist; alcohol abuse in the family, and family disagreements. Urban population more
often than rural inhabitants perceived loneliness and isolation from the closest family