01790nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001600059653002300075653002300098653001100121653001100132653001000143653001200153653000900165653002300174653002100197100001500218700001500233700001800248700002200266700001300288245006700301300001000368490000700378050003200385520104500417022001401462       1987                            d  c1987 Jul-Sep10aAbsenteeism10aAttitude to Health10aEducational Status10aFemale10aHumans10aIndia10aleprosy10aMale10aPatient Compliance10aRural Population1 aRaghavia M1 aBansal R D1 aSrinivasa D K1 aSoudarssanane M B1 aRamana G00aAbsenteeism in leprosy patients in a rural area in Tamil Nadu.  a322-90 v59  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>Of the 3382 leprosy patients taking treatment in Hemerijckx Rural Centre Area, 150 randomly selected patients, who were irregular for treatment, were matched with 150 patients who were regular for treatment, by age, sex and type of disease. The characteristics and the reasons for regularity/irregularity in treatment of these 300 patients were studied. There were more Lepromatous patients (20%) among regulars. A greater proportion of irregulars belonged to backward (54%) and scheduled castes (35%). The proportion of irregulars were more (32%) in the initial phase of the disease. There were more irregular patients among the illiterate group (61%). The knowledge of the irregular patients about early sign, causation, spread, curability and duration of treatment were found to be lacking. The clinic timing was unsuitable for 33% of irregular patients. 23% of irregulars experienced some intolerance to DDS. When 94% of regulars attended clinic in order that they may be 'cured', 63% of irregulars stayed away because of 'work'.</p>  a0254-9395