01618nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653002800055653001200083653001100095653002000106653001100126653001000137653001200147653000900159653002600168653003000194653001600224653001700240653002600257100001200283700001600295245006800311300001100379490000700390050003200397520086100429022001401290       1982                            d  c1982 Apr10aCross-Sectional Studies10aDapsone10aFemale10aHealth Services10aHumans10aIndia10aleprosy10aMale10aMedicine, Traditional10aReferral and Consultation10aSex Factors10aSocial Class10aSocioeconomic Factors1 aKumar A1 aAnbalagan M00aIllness and service utilization behaviours of leprosy patients.  a338-470 v54  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>225 adult leprosy patients attending the CLTRI, were interviewed to study their illness and medical agency utilization behaviours. Almost all patients perceived their disease as leprosy but 71.50% did not know how they got it. 10-11% did not reveal the disease to their family for fear of rejection. The time-lag between first suspicion and medical consultation was 1 year or more in 48% of cases. For treatment of leprosy, 36-38% of patients consulted Private Practitioners and General Hospitals, at one or the other time. 42.6% of patients changed 3 or more medical agencies for treatment. On an average patient had taken 62.39% of expected treatment. 41% of patients were not aware of the name of drug (DDS) they were taking. 44% of patients had tried home remedies. Most of the patients preferred to take treatment at leprosy referral hospitals.</p>  a0024-1024