Teenagers with oculocutaneous Albinism in Polokwane : their self-esteem and perceptions of societal attitudes

Abstract

This study explored the self-esteem of teenagers with oculocutaneous albinism and how they perceive societal attitudes towards them. A total of 40 teenage learners with oculocutaneous albinism from a special school and 60 teenage learners without the condition from the regular school in the Polokwane Municipality (Limpopo Province-South Africa) participated in the study.

Qualitative and quantitative methods were triangulated in the study. Data were collected using the questionnaires and focus group discussions. The results revealed that teenagers with oculocutaneous albinism (experimental group) scored higher (Mean=36.08) than the control group (Mean=33.57) on the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. The study furthermore revealed that community members and teachers are perceived as having mixed (positive and negative) attitudes whereas family members and peers hold positive attitudes towards teenagers with oculocutaneous albinism.

Although the teenagers with oculocutaneous albinism were found to have positive self-esteem, there is still a need for more organized community education programmes to educate the Black African communities about albinism.