Children of the Philippines: attitudes toward visible physical impairment.

OBJECTIVE

This pilot study was designed to evaluate children's attitudes and understanding of physical disabilities with special reference to those with craniofacial anomalies in the Philippines. Children with and without craniofacial anomalies were studied.

DESIGN

This was a two-group correlational design with additional statistical assessment of subgroup differences. Each group was interviewed and information obtained on a standard disability preference task, attributions for playmate choice, and frequency of contact with disabilities. Parents completed a structured interview.

SETTING

Participants were 122 children recruited from Negros, Philippines.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-four children with craniofacial anomalies (aged 7 to 12 years) were enrolled in the study, and 68 children without any disabilities were recruited from a local school in Bacolod City, Negros, Philippines.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Participants completed a picture-ranking interview of specific physical disabilities and provided their reasons for their play choices and their contact with physical disabilities.

RESULTS

The Kendall W correlation was significant for the children with craniofacial anomalies and for those without physical disabilities. Both groups reported lower preferences for disabilities that interfere with play and social interactions. Children depicted with facial anomalies received lower preference, compared with other physical disabilities. Children with craniofacial anomalies who have experienced surgical repair reported more positive rankings for the child depicted with a facial cleft. Sex differences in disability preference were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Children in the Philippines with and without craniofacial differences revealed similarities in preferences to children in several Western (United States) and non-Western countries. Children depicted with facial anomalies received lower preference than other visible physical differences. Children reported both positive and negative explanations for their disability play preferences. Facial differences may result in illogical and negative explanations for social avoidance among children. Similar reactions are noted in other parts of the world.