Albinism: awareness, attitudes and level of albinos’ predicament in Sukumaland, Tanzania

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dc.creatorMasanja, M. M.
dc.creatorMvena, Z. S. K.
dc.creatorKayunze, K. A.
dc.date2017-12-05T08:40:25Z
dc.date2017-12-05T08:40:25Z
dc.date2014
dc.date.accessioned2022-10-25T08:52:58Z
dc.date.available2022-10-25T08:52:58Z
dc.descriptionAsian Journal of Applied Science and Engineering, 2014; 3 (4): 382-395
dc.descriptionIn Tanzania, persons with albinism (PWA), continue to be less valued, rejected, attacked and killed for ritual purposes. This study examined the situation of PWA and their households resulting from killings and attacks on them. Specifically, the study assessed the level of awareness, attitudes towards albinism and PWA and level of predicament felt by members of households with PWA. An albinism understanding test and attitudinal scales (Likert and Semantic differential scales) were used to determine attitudes towards albinism and level of dilemma felt. A linear regression model was used to determine the impacts of various variables on the level of predicament. Knowledge on albinism was found to be moderate. Levels of awareness were significantly associated with respondents’ age (p = 0.004), sex (p = 0.017), education level (p < 0.0001), religion (p < 0.001) and ethnic group (p = 0.025). Four-fifths of the respondents (80%) had negative attitudes towards albinism and PWA. Unfavourable attitude was highly associated with education level and occupation (p < 0.001). Level of PWA predicament was higher among household members being significantly impacted positively by level of albinism awareness (β = 0.500), but negatively impacted by attitude towards albinism (β = -313) and age (β = -0.191). Age, education, sex and belief determined level of knowledge on albinism. Education level determined attitudes of respondents. Albinism awareness determined the level of predicament felt. The fight against negative beliefs and attitudes towards albinism requires properly designed albinism awareness creation programme.
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.identifier382-395
dc.identifierhttps://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/1816
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/93191
dc.languageen
dc.publisherAsian Journal of Applied Science and Engineering
dc.subjectAlbinism
dc.subjectAwareness
dc.subjectAttitude
dc.subjectAlbinos’ predicament
dc.subjectSukumaland
dc.titleAlbinism: awareness, attitudes and level of albinos’ predicament in Sukumaland, Tanzania
dc.typeArticle

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