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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 />

135

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