Barriers to access: factors limiting full participation of children with albinism at school in northern Malawi: Part 1

Children with the inherited condition albinism in Africa lack pigment in their hair, eyes and skin and are an especially vulnerable group: they are ‘white’ in a black community, visually impaired, highly susceptible to sun-induced skin damage and suffer social stigma and rejection. The main aim of this study was to identify factors influencing access to and participation in education for young people with albinism in five rural villages in northern Malawi. An additional aim was to document local community beliefs about albinism which may impact on their educational opportunities and environment. This study, conducted in partnership with the Malawian Ministry of Education, the charities Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) and The Albino Association of Malawi (TAAM), will have a high social impact by informing educational policy of this vulnerable group of children in Malawi.