Using community-based interventions to reduce public stigma of children with disabilities: A feasibility study

Renee A. Hepperlen, Jennifer Biggs, Watson Mwandileya, Paula Rabaey, Esther Ngulube, Mary O. Hearst

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Public stigma, or negative community-held beliefs, about children with disabilities (CWDs) often leads to negative outcomes for CWD and their families. This study considers the effectiveness of four community-level interventions to reduce public stigma in two Lusaka, Zambia communities. Methods: This feasibility study describes four community-based interventions to provide education to consider whether perceptions of attitudes and stigma towards CWD changed after implementing four educational interventions. Results: Results revealed that these interventions were achievable. Preliminary multiple regression analyses indicated a significant impact of attending an event on the attitude scale, while no effect on the stigma scale. Presence at multiple anti-stigma events exhibited no effect for the stigma scale, while the attitude scale showed significance. Discussion: This study builds on the limited research available in low-income countries to reduce public stigma towards CWD, with the hope of enhance quality of life for CWD and their families.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1499-1510
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
Volume34
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study received funding from the GHR Foundation.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Keywords

  • children with disabilities
  • community education
  • community-level intervention
  • low- and middle-income country
  • public stigma

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