Etiological Attributions Of Alms-Begging Among People With Special Needs: Differential Perceptions Of Persons With Special Needs In Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Many people opine that the society, religious persuasions, the government and beggars themselves are causal agents of begging behaviour among people with special needs. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating differential etiological attributions of alms-begging among people with special needs in Oyo State, Nigeria. To achieve this, 96 people with special needs randomly selected in three special institutions in Oyo State participated in the study. These institutions are: Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled, Moniya, Ibadan; Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo and; Oyo State Centre for Blind Persons, Ogbomoso. Thirty-two persons each in three categories of special needs participated in the study (that is, 32 persons with visual impairment (VI), 32 persons with hearing impairment (HI), and 32 persons with physical handicap (PH). Their age ranged between 20 and 62 years with a mean of 32.6years and standard deviation of 3.56years. The instrument used was a 30-item structured questionnaire. Results of the study showed that people with special needs agreed that the society, the government and the beggars themselves are causal agents of alms-begging, while religious factors were not pronounced. Recommendations were advanced about how alms-begging can be tamed in the society.

International Journal of Emotional Psychology and Sport Ethics Vol. 10 2008: pp. 176-186