Download the report - The Healing Foundation
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DISCUSSION<br />
<strong>The</strong> focus group interviews offered a unique insight into views regarding visible differences held<br />
by South Asian communities in <strong>the</strong> UK. A number of <strong>the</strong>mes were identified, some of which<br />
have been highlighted in previous literature, in particular <strong>the</strong> impact of disfigurement upon social<br />
acceptability and <strong>the</strong> prospect of marriage (Rozario, 2007).<br />
Religious beliefs and cultural views and practices appear to be deep-rooted within <strong>the</strong> South<br />
Asian population, so it is no surprise to find <strong>the</strong>se entities cutting across <strong>the</strong> majority of <strong>the</strong>mes<br />
that emerged. <strong>The</strong>y are applied to views about <strong>the</strong> cause and origin of <strong>the</strong> visible difference as<br />
well as to <strong>the</strong> consequences of that difference.<br />
A number of areas were identified that could inform interventions to eradicate <strong>the</strong> negative<br />
consequences of visible difference. <strong>The</strong>se included education to dispel myths, raising<br />
awareness of sources of support, and <strong>the</strong> provision of medical explanations for visible<br />
differences. Members of <strong>the</strong> Bengali older female focus group were particularly keen to express<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir suggestions for interventions to improve <strong>the</strong> experiences of those with visible differences<br />
and those that have children with visible differences (See Table 6.1).<br />
It is also important to emphasise that focus group participants used <strong>the</strong> terms disfigurement and<br />
disability interchangeably suggesting that physical impairments may be regarded as highly<br />
salient visible differences - this may have implications for future interventions with <strong>the</strong>se groups.<br />
Whilst <strong>the</strong> methodological approach utilised for this study enabled pertinent issues regarding<br />
visible difference to be highlighted without imposing ‘external’ ideas, especially <strong>the</strong> use of a<br />
semi-structured ‘topic guide’, it was not always possible to explore issues in depth or allow<br />
participants <strong>the</strong> opportunity to elaborate on points. Resources did not allow us to conduct fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />
interviews with communities of similar backgrounds in o<strong>the</strong>r locations, or to cover <strong>the</strong> full range<br />
of cultural groups represented in <strong>the</strong> UK South Asian population.<br />
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