Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice about leprosy among patients and their families in a rural community in Tamil Nadu
Journal Title: National Journal of Research in Community Medicine - Year 2014, Vol 3, Issue 2
Abstract
Background: Leprosy as a social disease has been a major public health problem because of the social stigma and ignorance attached to it. This has made it difficult for our health care delivery system in their pursuit for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. This study was done with the objective of assessing the present knowledge, attitude and practice of leprosy affected persons and their family members in a rural setting. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted by using a pre tested, structured questionnaire among 100 registered Leprosy patients and 100 adult members of patient’s family in Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. Data collected was analyzed and results were summarized in percentages and presented in tables. Results: About 32% of the patients and 37% of family members were aware that leprosy is caused by a germ. Skin patches and loss of sensation as symptoms of Leprosy were known to 55% of patients and 73% of the family members. 84% of Patients and 64% family members said that leprosy was curable. About 90% of the patients and 82% of the family members stated that deformities can be prevented by early and regular treatment. The patients showed a negative attitude after contracting the disease. Most of the family members (73%) did not share articles used by patients. 91% of the family members felt leprosy patients can be employable. About 45% the family members opined that a cured leprosy patient can marry. About 90% of the patients participated in social functions and 64% didn’t hesitate to take food along with others. All family members were found to be willing to support their leprosy affected relatives. Conclusion: This study revealed inconsistency and deficiencies in the knowledge, attitude and practice among the leprosy affected patients and their family members. The patients and family members had adequate level of knowledge about leprosy, but their attitude toward the disease was average but their practices were not satisfactory.
Authors and Affiliations
Stephen T. , Selvaraj I. , Gopalakrishnan S.
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP216030
- DOI -
- Views 90
- Downloads 0
Use of case scenarios to teach spotters in Community Medicine: A Randomized Controlled trial
Background and Introduction: The Community Medicine teaching is to contribute to the development of an all-round(holistic) Medical professional. It has a major role in achieving the main goal of graduate medical educatio...
Comparative Study on Risk Factors for cardiovascular Diseases between Urban and Rural Population in Tamil Nadu
Introduction: The Cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden of India is expected to double in the next two decades, making it the single largest cause of death by the year 2020 with an enormous burden of CVD among urban commun...
A Study of Feeding Practices in the babies of urban educated mothers attending well baby clinic of a tertiary care maternity hospital.
Background: Ideal food for the young infant is human milk which has the specific characteristics that matches the growing infant’s nutritional requirement. It is the nature’s first food for babies. It provides all the e...
PREVALENCE OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS AMONG HIV SEROPOSITIVES ATTENDING ART CLINIC OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, NELLORE, A.P.
BACKGROUND: The Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic has posed major, almost insurmountable, challenges to tuberculosis (TB) control efforts across the world. The current study was undertaken to find out the socio...
DEPRESSION AND ITS PREDICTORS AMONG ELDERLY POPULATION IN AN URBAN COMMUNITY IN PUDUCHERRY
Background: Depression is commonly encountered in elderly population. The symptoms associated with depression are likely to be dismissed as ‘normal’ by self as well as family caregivers. Other than organic causes, social...