Author's summary

In 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.

Resource Center comment

This paper reports on one of the few studies to adopt a quantative approach to determine attitudes towards albinism and level of dilemma felt within a sample of 156 people with albinism. An ‘albinism understanding test’ and attitudinal scales (Likert and Semantic differential scales) were used, and identified low levels of knowledge and poor attitudes towards people with albinism, not surprsingly this was most acute amongst those with little or no education.

Cet article rend compte de l'une des rares études à adopter une approche quantitative pour déterminer les attitudes envers l'albinisme et le niveau de dilemme ressenti chez un échantillon de 156 personnes atteintes d'albinisme. A été utilisé un « test de compréhension de l'albinisme » et des échelles d'attitudes (l’échelle différentielle sémantique et l’échelle de Likert) pour identifier les faibles niveaux de connaissances et les mauvaises attitudes à l'égard des personnes atteintes d'albinisme.