Perceptions about intellectual disability: a qualitative study from Vellore, South India

• Published in: Journal of intellectual disability research 2010-08, Vol.54 (8), p.736-748
• Main Authors: Edwardraj, S., Mumtaj, K., Prasad, J. H., Kuruvilla, A., Jacob, K. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Adult; Aged; Attitude to Health; Attitude towards mental illness; Attitudes; Attitudes toward Disabilities; Belief & doubt; Beliefs; Biological and medical sciences; Caregiver Role; Caregivers; Children; Cultural aspects; Cultural Awareness; Cultural Characteristics; Cultural Influences; Culture; Disabilities; Family - psychology; Female; Focus Groups; Foreign Countries; Humans; India; Intellectual Disability; Intelligence; Intervention; Learning disabilities; Medical sciences; Mental disorders; Mental Retardation; Middle Aged; Misconceptions; Mothers; Negative Attitudes; Perceptions; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Qualitative Research; Religion; Religious beliefs; Social Bias; Social Perception; Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry; Social Support; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0964-2633; 1365-2788
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2010.01301.x

Background  Cultural and religious beliefs influence perceptions about health and illness. Data, from India, on perceptions about intellectual disability are scant. This study explored people's cultural beliefs and attitudes about intellectual disability, perceived needs and burden associated with care in Vellore, south India. Method  A qualitative methodology using focus groups was employed. Eight focus groups were conducted in three settings and included the mothers of children and adolescents with intellectual disability (four groups, n = 29), community health workers (two groups, n = 17) and schoolteachers (two groups, n = 16). Results  Our results suggest that cultural and religious beliefs perpetuated negative attitudes towards disability. This meant that caregivers bore a high burden of care with little support from family or society. The study confirmed the presence of diverse, multiple and contradictory models of disability drawing from biomedical and local religious, social and cultural constructs. Conclusions  Public awareness, education and community‐level interventions for reducing the misconceptions and stigma related to intellectual disability are needed in addition to culturally sensitive treatment methods to improve the attitude towards and management of intellectual disability.