Problems and coping strategies of the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses in the City of Baguio

Abstract

All around the world, there are millions of people who are not given the chance to see the beauty of God's creation. They do not get to see the different species of plants and animals, the splendors of the forest and the seas, the wideness of the clear blue skies, and most of all, the very faces of their family members. Yes, these people were given the eyes but were denied the eyesight - the visually impaired. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 145 million people are blind worldwide and an additional 160 million worldwide suffer from low vision. Seventy (70%) percent of this worldwide figures on blindness can be accounted to Cataract, Trachoma and Glaucoma while the remaining 30% could either be because of conchoriasis, lack of vitamin A, muscular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. The visually impaired just like the deaf, mute and others, belong to the so called special people and to be more politically correct of calling them "disabled". Therefore, since they are special, they have different patterns, styles, methods and strategies compared to normal people or individuals without any disability. They have no choice but to compensate their weakness with what they can as part of their survival. Just like the visually impaired, since they cannot see, their vision is compensated with strong sense of touch and hearing. On the other hand, the deaf and mute try to communicate using body language or "signs". These are only some of the coping strategies they use to go with the main stream patterns of behavior. The researcher deemed it important to study the present condition of the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses because by way of investigating, their problems and needs may be identified as physically challenged individuals. Also, the sighted community will gain knowledge of how these people manage their own affairs and if any form of assistance that they need may be addressed properly and accordingly. It is also important to learn from the respondents if any existing bills of programs are favorably working for them or if there are other matters or areas that needs to be taken up to add for their welfare as special sector of the society. This study entitled "Problems and Coping Strategies of the Visually Impaired Masseurs and Masseuses in the city of Baguio" attempted to identify and classify the problems encountered by the respondents and how they cope in order to overcome their problems or any stressful situation. This paper specifically aimed to answer the following questions: 1. What are the pressing problems encountered by the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses in the city of Baguio in the following areas? a. Finance and employment? b. Home, family and living condition? c. Health and physical condition? 2. What are the different coping strategies used by the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses in order to overcome the above mentioned problems? 3. How do problems and coping strategies relate to gender, civil status and advent of visual impairment? Based on the analysis of data gathered for the study, the following results were established: 1. The pressing problems encountered by the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses in the area of "finance and employment" are "too much financial problems" and "no fixed steady income" rated as moderately pressing problems. The least pressing problems are under "home, family and living condition". Problems in the area of "health and physical condition" are not pressing problems. 2. The visually impaired masseurs and masseuses use coping strategies. Respondents often employ active-cognitive coping strategies; sometimes use active-behavioral coping strategies; and rarely apply avoidance coping strategies" to cope. 3. Problems and coping strategies of the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses are significantly correlated according to gender, civil status and advent of visual impairment. 3.a According to gender, respondents have a perfect correlation of problems in the area of "finance and employment". Respondents significantly considered these problems under this area in the same order implying that the female and male respondents view the problems in this area in the same level or degree. 3.b According to gender, the respondents have a low correlation of problems in the area of home, family and living condition. Female respondents are more affected with the problems enumerated in this area. 3.c According to gender, respondents have a high correlation of problems in the area of health and physical condition. Both the female and male respondents of the study view the problems enumerated in this area in almost the same level. 3.d According to gender, the respondents have a high correlation in the application of active-cognitive coping strategies. 3.e According to gender, the respondents have a moderate correlation in the application of active-behavioral coping strategies. 3.f According to gender, respondents have a very high correlation in the rare application of avoidance coping strategies. 3.g According to civil status, the respondents have a very high correlation of problems in the area of finance and employment. Regardless of their civil status, they agree to have problems under this area. 3.h According to civil status, the respondents have a moderate correlation of problems in the area of home, family and living condition. 3.i According to civil status, the respondents have a moderate correlation of problems in the area of health and physical condition. 3.j According to civil status, the respondents have a low correlation in the application of active-cognitive coping strategies. 3.k According to civil status, the respondents have a moderate correlation in the application of active-behavioral coping strategies. 3.1. According to civil status, the respondents have a high correlation in the application of avoidance coping strategies. 3. m. According to their advent of visual impairment, the respondents have a high correlation of problems in the area of finance and employment. 3.n According to advent of visual impairment, respondents have a moderate correlation of problems in the area of home, family and living condition. 3.o According to advent of visual impairment, respondents have a moderate correlation of the problems in the area of health and physical condition. 3.p According to advent of visual impairment, the respondents have a moderate correlation in the application of Active-cognitive coping strategies. 3.q According to advent of visual impairment, the respondents showed a high correlation in the application of Active-behavioral coping strategies. 3.r According to advent of visual impairment, the respondents have a high correlation in the application of Avoidance coping strategies. Based on the salient findings of the study, the following conclusions have been drawn by the researcher. 1. The visually impaired masseurs and masseuses have moderately pressing problems in the area of "finance and employment"; "home, family and living condition" as "least pressing problems" and "health and physical condition" as "not pressing problems". 2. The visually impaired masseurs and masseuses often use as active-cognitive coping strategies. Respondents sometimes employ active-behavioral coping strategies and rarely apply the avoidance coping strategies as a way of coping. 3.a Problems encountered by the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses on "finance and employment" and "health and physical condition" are highly related to gender, whereas "home, family and living condition" problems have low correlation based on gender. 3.b The active-cognitive coping strategies and avoidance coping strategies of the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses have a very high correlation according to gender while moderate correlation in the application of active-behavioral coping strategies. 3.c Problems of the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses on "finance and employment" is highly related according to civil status while problems under "home, family and living condition" and health and physical condition" are moderately related. 3.d The active-cognitive coping strategies used by the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses have a low correlation according to civil status. The active-behavioral coping strategies of the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses are moderately correlated. There is a high correlation in the use of avoidance coping strategies. 3.e. The problems of the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses under "finance and employment" are highly correlated according to advent of visual impairment. Problems under "home, family and living condition" and "health and physical condition" have a moderate correlation. 3.f. The active-cognitive coping strategies employed by the visually impaired masseurs and masseuses have a moderate correlation according to advent of visual impairment. There is a high correlation in the employment of active-behavioral coping strategies and avoidance coping strategies. Based on the findings and conclusions, the following recommendations are forwarded: 1. The national government in collaboration with the local government of the city of Baguio should in their budget allocation for this special sector of the society for construction of clinics and creation of alternative jobs suited for the visually impaired constituents. 2. The government should attend to existing bills or programs that will be geared towards the alleviation of the benefits being provided to the individuals who are physically challenged like the visually impaired. 3. The Department of Health should create programs to address the specific health needs of the visually impaired in the local as well as national level. 4. Government line agencies as well as non-government agencies must continue to provide enhancement training and seminars that can help the visually impaired in managing their own affairs. 5. The government line agencies and non-government agencies should continuously support the organizations of the visually impaired by making them part of social activities that can boost up their self confidence. 6. More studies about the visually impaired should be encouraged by the different educational institutions or research centers in order to fully understand their condition or state in life.