While congenital birth abnormalities have appeared in every civilization and society, the reactions and interpretations to these strange and often frightening births have differed considerably.  What accounts for these significant differences?

The larger conditions in society strongly influence how a disabled child will be understood.  A few contributing factors include dominant religious beliefs, the quality of life, presence of treatment options, and medical knowledge. Some societies also had opinions on disabilities, whether present from birth or suffered later in life.