Table 2 Perceived stigma score by demographic characteristics

Place of Residence

Urban

361 (97.8)

16.9

13.7

-0.30

0.761

Rural

8 (2.2)

18.4

17.4

Gender

Male

230 (62.3)

15.9

13.7

-1.74

0.082

Female

139 (37.7)

18.5

13.8

Age in Years

18–24

46 (12.5)

14.6

11.5

1.00

0.409

25–34

60 (16.3)

15.9

14.8

35–44

54 (14.6)

16.7

14.0

45–54

63 (17.1)

16.0

12.3

55 and above

146 (39.6)

18.5

14.5

Caste & Ethnicity

Brahmin/Chhetri

127 (34.4)

14.1

13.0

10.48

0.000

JanaJaati

133 (36.0)

15.0

12.0

Madhesi

61 (16.5)

26.5

15.1

Dalit

19 (5.1)

16.6

13.1

Muslims & others

29 (7.9)

18.0

14.2

Religion

Hinduism

288 (78.0)

17.3

13.8

0.91

0.362

Others

81 (22.0)

15.7

13.5

Education

No formal education

244 (66.1)

18.8

13.7

11.76

0.000

Primary/Basic (1–8)

80 (21.7)

16.1

13.3

Secondary and higher (Grade 9+)

45 (12.2)

8.3

11.5

Occupation

Labor

67 (18.2)

23.5

14.1

21.55

0.000

Service

15 (4.1)

21.3

14.0

Unemployed & housework

147 (39.8)

10.9

10.1

Business & self-employment

30 (8.1)

13.4

11.8

Farming

49 (13.3)

14.0

10.7

Cannot work

61 (16.5)

27.3

14.9

Marital status

Married

202 (54.7)

17.4

14.4

0.54

0.583

Never Married

130 (35.2)

16.6

12.9

Single (Widow, Divorced)

37 (10.0)

15.0

12.9

Disability Type

Physical

162 (43.9)

15.4

14.0

3.42

0.009

Visual

42 (11.4)

16.8

12.7

Hearing

87 (23.6)

15.9

14.5

Intellectual

23 (6.2)

17.2

12.3

Multiple

55 (14.9)

23.0

11.7

Severity of disability (n = 210)

Profound

66 (31.4)

18.3

12.3

2.50

0.061

Severe

100 (47.6)

13.5

11.6

Moderate

21 (10.0)

12.3

13.7

Mild

23 (11.0)

16.8

14.2

Household Wealth Quintile

Lowest

77 (20.9)

22.7

13.9

4.62

0.001

Second

79 (21.4)

15.5

13.6

Middle

98 (26.6)

14.7

13.5

Fourth

53 (14.4)

16.7

12.9

Highest

62 (16.8)

15.2

13.3