IMPACT OF ALBINISM ON THE SELF-ESTEEM OF STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY OF ALBINO STUDENTS IN NIGERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Albinism is an inherited condition in which a person lacks the usual amount of the pigment melanin, which is the substance that gives color to skin, hair, and eyes. It affects individuals called albinos. This study examines the impact of albinism on the self-esteem of biology Albino students in educational institutions located in district II of Lagos in Nigeria. The study aims to understand the different categories of self-esteem of albinos compared to that of non-albinos and ways to enhance their self-esteem. Survey design method was used for this study. The participants of this study were all the sampled students with albinism and non-albino biology students. The population comprises of Twenty (20) albinos, two thousand five hundred (2500) non-albino biology students while twenty (20) students were randomly sampled using ballot method, from the population of non-albinos in senior secondary schools. The research instrument used was the questionnaire named Perceived Impact of Albinism on the Self-esteem of Albinos (PIASEA) which contained 20 items. Also, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used to categorize the self-esteem of the participants. Data was analyzed quantitatively using the percentage, mean method and the T-test. The analysis yielded four major findings. First, the findings revealed that the categories of self-esteem of the albinos were 85% healthy, 15% high and 0% low. Second, it was revealed that the self-esteem of the albino students can be enhanced if support and proper care is given to them. Third, it was discovered also that the self-esteem of non-albinos were higher compared to that of the albinos. Fourth, it was discovered that there was no significant difference in the self-esteem of male and female albino Biology students. Based on these results, implications and recommendations were discussed.