TY - JOUR
T1 - Towards an inclusive society in cameroon
T2 - Understanding the perceptions of students in university of Yaounde II about persons with disabilities
AU - Opoku, Maxwell Peprah
AU - Badu, Eric
AU - Moitui, Joash Ntenga
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, Action for Disability Regional Rehabilitation Centre. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Purpose: Disability cuts across every society and all spheres of life. For an inclusive society, it is important to understand people’s perceptions about persons with disabilities. However, there seems to be limited information, particularly about the perceptions of students who are the generation of future policy-makers. This study examines the perceptions of students in the University of Yaoundé II about persons with disabilities in Cameroon. Methods: A cross sectional study design using quantitative methods was employed with a sample of students at the University of Yaoundé II. A questionnaire was used to gather information from 500 students selected by simple random sampling. The data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics at 95% CI. Results: Among the participants, 51.8% were males, 89.2% were single and the average age was 24.9 years. Findings showed that 69.8% did not know about the actual population of persons with disabilities in Cameroon, though 14.6% had relatives with disabilities. None of the students perceived disability as a contagious condition, and 79.8% agreed that education had influenced their perceptions about persons with disabilities. Gender and education level had significant relationship with changes in perception (OR=1.8; p=0.01 and OR=1.91; p=0.04). However, 13.5% were unwilling to work with a person with disability in the future. Conclusion: The findings suggest that issues of disability have not been taken into consideration in Cameroon. Therefore, there is the need for education and sensitisation of the general population towards disability. Additionally, policy-makers should factor persons with disabilities into national strategic plans, in order to ensure an inclusive society.
AB - Purpose: Disability cuts across every society and all spheres of life. For an inclusive society, it is important to understand people’s perceptions about persons with disabilities. However, there seems to be limited information, particularly about the perceptions of students who are the generation of future policy-makers. This study examines the perceptions of students in the University of Yaoundé II about persons with disabilities in Cameroon. Methods: A cross sectional study design using quantitative methods was employed with a sample of students at the University of Yaoundé II. A questionnaire was used to gather information from 500 students selected by simple random sampling. The data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics at 95% CI. Results: Among the participants, 51.8% were males, 89.2% were single and the average age was 24.9 years. Findings showed that 69.8% did not know about the actual population of persons with disabilities in Cameroon, though 14.6% had relatives with disabilities. None of the students perceived disability as a contagious condition, and 79.8% agreed that education had influenced their perceptions about persons with disabilities. Gender and education level had significant relationship with changes in perception (OR=1.8; p=0.01 and OR=1.91; p=0.04). However, 13.5% were unwilling to work with a person with disability in the future. Conclusion: The findings suggest that issues of disability have not been taken into consideration in Cameroon. Therefore, there is the need for education and sensitisation of the general population towards disability. Additionally, policy-makers should factor persons with disabilities into national strategic plans, in order to ensure an inclusive society.
KW - Cameroon
KW - Label
KW - Perception
KW - Persons with disabilities
KW - Policymaking
KW - Spirituality
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U2 - 10.5463/DCID.v26i2.420
DO - 10.5463/DCID.v26i2.420
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84938268038
SN - 1029-4414
VL - 26
SP - 92
EP - 103
JO - Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal
JF - Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal
IS - 2
ER -