An evaluation of psychosocial services provided to children with visual impairment in Dar es Salaam region, Tanzania.

This study aimed at evaluating psychosocial scribes provided to children with visual impairment in Dar es Salaam region, Tanzania. Specifically, it sought to assess psychosocial services and needs for children with visual impairment, as well as identifying psychosocial problems which negatively affect their social welfare. Respondents of this study were seventy (100%). The study was mainly qualitative. Psychosocial problems which adversely affected the social welfare of children with visual impairment included community's prejudices and stereotypes towards children with visual impairment, discrimination against children with visual impairment and negative attitudes towards them, the exclusion of the children in performing social and economic activities, family conflicts, unreliable means of transport, labelling, and lack of access to information. It was discovered that there was priority put in enhancing psychological and social services for the children and where available, it was very minimal. From the assessment of psychosocial services and needs of children with visual impairment, it was discovered that children with visual impairment required services such as counselling, rehabilitation, love, games and sports, mobility and orientation training, skills training, and spiritual services. They, also required needs such as warmth, social security, respect, education, appreciation, social status, and recognition. The children were provided with inadequate and poor psychosocial needs and services. It was recommended that development stakeholders have to assure that children live comfortably in the community and get well accepted, well adjusted, and given all the required psychosocial services and needs.