02233nas a2200193   4500000000100000008004100001260002500042653002000067653002600087653003900113653001200152653001200164100001300176700001100189245010600200490000600306520171300312022001402025       2026                            d  c10/2026bElsevier BV10aQuality of Life10aMathematical modeling10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aLeprosy10aUtility1 aMondal T1 aRoy PK00aAdaptive contact behavior under awareness campaigns: A case study of an epi-economic model of leprosy0 v93 a<p>Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) remain difficult to diagnose due to their long incubation periods. Furthermore, frequent asymptomatic transmission associated with NTDs makes intervention strategies difficult to implement effectively. NTDs are also associated with visible deformities and disabilities, which contribute to persistent societal stigma and significantly reduce the quality of life of infected individuals. Furthermore, increasing digitalization has facilitated the rapid spread of misinformation, amplifying public fear and misconceptions surrounding these diseases. Considering these factors, we develop a four-dimensional mathematical model within a forward-looking socio-economic behavioral framework. In this setting, individuals adjust their contact preferences based on perceived incentives from social interaction while accounting for the potential risk of infection. Hence, contact decisions arise from the trade-off between social or economic benefits and the expected utility costs associated with risky interactions. This epi-economic framework allows behavioral adaptation to influence the epidemic trajectory over time. Numerical simulations, considering disease leprosy as a representative case, indicate that adaptive behavioral responses can substantially reduce the prevalence of symptomatic infections. However, the persistence of asymptomatic carriers continues to sustain disease transmission, suggesting that asymptomatic spread remains a major challenge for disease eradication. Our findings further indicate that periodic awareness campaigns can improve societal perceptions of infection and contribute to enhancing the quality of life of affected individuals.</p>
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