Cultural Beliefs about Disability in Practice: Experiences at a Special School in Tanzania

Abstract

This article examines cultural beliefs and values about disability in one Tanzanian community and the influence of those beliefs on a school for children with disabilities. The larger ethnographic study examined the role of beliefs in the community and the development of the school curriculum. This study used the models of disability as a framework for classifying and understanding the different belief systems present. The study was conducted in a rural community in Tanzania at a school for children with developmental disabilities. In this community, multiple models of disability were present, but the socio-cultural and pluralistic models were most prevalent. Beliefs centred about the causes of disability, God's plan or role in the community, and a mixture of Christian, Muslim, and traditional beliefs. Participants saw the school staff as integral to influencing beliefs about disability in the community through their presence and outreach efforts.

Cultural beliefs among people with epilepsy or physical impairment in Guinea-Bissau: Differences and similarities

“…The negative attitudes we found among people with a disability are comparable to findings reported from Tanzanian individuals with a disability [20]. Individuals with epilepsy and physical impairments face negative attitudes because of their inability to fully participate in daily activities such as attending school, finding a job, or raising a family.…”

“…This may give the incorrect impression that disability-related stigma and social exclusion are restricted to, or more severe in, people with epilepsy as compared to individuals with, for instance, physical impairments. Indeed, people with physical impairments who fully participate in daily activities are likely to be considered 'normal' [20,22,23], but this is equally true for PWE who have been free of epilepsy for a period of time or have fewer seizures. A strong association has been found between the negative effects of stigma and a high seizure frequency [24,25].…”

The perception of disability by community groups: Stories of local understanding, beliefs and challenges in a rural part of Kenya

“…References to the ‘will of God’ demonstrated cognitive appraisal of circumstances and rationalisation of responses [23, 33–34]. The faith-based explanations revealed a benevolent presence, with no mention of the punitive God reported by others [27, 35].…”

“…Although variations in narratives have been observed [ 21 ], some resonate across sub-Saharan Africa. “Others” as an explanatory source may attribute a child’s condition to an external force, such as a curse or evil spirits (‘jinnies’) as reported in Malawi [ 2 ], Namibia [ 22 ], Tanzania [ 23 ], and Kenya [ 24 – 26 ]. “Oneself” implies responsibility for a wrong-doing resulting in disability.…”

Child Developmental Disabilities, Caregivers’ Role in Kenya and Its Implications on Global Migration

“…Perceptions about the causes of DDs may be attributed to witchcraft, depending on one’s ethnic background [32]. This prejudice is also noted for other African countries such as Tanzania [33], Malawi [34] and Namibia [35]. Prejudice results in stigma around persons with DDs and their caregivers.…”