Use of logistic regression models to analyze the demand for social services as supplementary on-farm activit

Abstract

In Slovenia the majority of mentally disabled are not included into the net of programs and services, provided by the state. As agriculture in the broader sense is indispensable component of these programs, it is reasonable to suggest, that into the system of social care farms with corresponding supplementary on-farm activities should be incorporated.

The parents of mentally disabled were surveyed with regard to their willingness to include them into the everyday life and activities of a farm, that would provide them with social services (employment, care, nursing) in the form of a supplementary on-farm activity. Inquiry of 271 parents point out that 67 % of parents are willing to include their mentally disabled offspring into the everyday on-farm activities, 19 % are indecisive, and 14 % expressed refusal. The model of nominal logistic regression studied the association of the characteristics of the mentally disabled offspring and of the parents with the willingness to include the mentally disabled offspring to the everyday on-farm activities. The analysis points out statistically significant impact of the age of the mentally disabled offspring, of the degree of mental disability and the experiences with agriculture, as well as of the level of education of the parents.

Results show that the majority of the demand for such social services is to be expected from the group with following characteristics: young mentally disabled persons (up to 25 years of age), who already have the experiences with agriculture. Additional expected characteristics are: mild or moderate degree of mental disability and education of the parents beyond the basic. The second target group represents indecisive parents, who differ from those who are inclined to the inclusion, with regard to fewer experiences of the offspring with agriculture and the higher degree of mental disability of their offspring, mainly.