Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Children with Disability

Background: Children with disability face discrimination daily in the form of negative attitudes, lack of adequate policies and legislation. These children are also, effectively prevented from realizing their rights to healthcare, education, and even survival. Methods and Materials: A cross sectional survey design was used in the present study. Study was conducted in selected OPDs of Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research, Dimapur, Nagaland with a sample size of 252. Results: In the knowledge, majority felt only the disabilities which limit function and were visible to the naked eye (vision and hearing loss, need use of wheelchair or walking aid) are disabled. Very few participants felt that a child who has low vision, poor hearing and who has difficulties with learning has a disability. Also, very few participants were aware about the different services available for CWD. In the attitude score, 50 individuals have favourable attitude towards children with disability, 185 were neutral and 17 have unfavourable attitude towards children with disability. There was a statistically significant association of attitude and gender. Conclusion: Knowledge regarding with disability, legislation and services were limited. Most participants did not consider those disabilities that are not overtly visible as a disability. Most of the participants had a neutral attitude towards children with disability.