The objectives of this study was to measure the quality of life and social participation of ex-leprosy patients (persons affected by leprosy, PAL) who receive socio-economic rehabilitation (SER) in general community in Thailand. A combination of a cross-sectional descriptive study and a qualitative study was performed. The first batch of 120 PAL with severe disability who were approved to receive the new SER-in-the-community programme, were purposively selected and interviewed with the Leprosy Disability and Socio-economic Scale, WHOQOL-BREF-THAI and the Participation Scale. Data were analyzed using unpaired t-test, one way ANOVA and stepwise multiple regression. Qualitative interviews of 12 PAL and 40 key informants were also conducted. The results showed that 94 PAL were interviewed between May-August 2009. Fifty-six percent of PAL had moderate quality of life. Factors predicting quality of life were migration, absence of limitations in social participation and accessibility to health care, and disabilities (R2 = 0.401). About a quarter of PAL (25.5%) had severe participation restriction, 24.5% moderate restriction, and 22.3% mild restriction. Predictive factors in limitation of social participation were illiteracy, unemployment and disability (R2 = 0.223).
In conclusion, we propose that SER in-the-community programme for PAL improved self-esteem, financial contribution, and more out-going of PAL. SER in-the-community programme should be integrated into the social welfare programme for people with disability in order to increase the coverage for all PAL and eliminate the discrimination against leprosy.