02976nas a2200493   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001100055653003200066653001100098653002000109653004200129653002700171653001100198653001400209653002400223653001200247653000900259653001000268653001200278653003800290653001400328653002500342653002100367653001600388653002100404653002600425653003100451100001900482700001200501700001200513700001600525700001400541700001400555700001500569700001400584245007800598856005100676300001000727490000700737050002100744520170300765022001402468       2009                            d  c2009 Mar10aBrazil10aEvaluation Studies as Topic10aFemale10aGender Identity10aHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice10aHealthcare Disparities10aHumans10aIndonesia10aInterviews as Topic10aleprosy10aMale10aNepal10aNigeria10aPatient Acceptance of Health Care10aPrejudice10aQualitative Research10aSex Distribution10aSex Factors10aSocial Isolation10aSocioeconomic Factors10aSurveys and Questionnaires1 aVarkevisser CM1 aLever P1 aAlubo O1 aBurathoki K1 aIdawani C1 aMoreira T1 aPatrobas P1 aYulizar M00aGender and leprosy: case studies in Indonesia, Nigeria, Nepal and Brazil.  uhttps://leprosyreview.org/article/80/1/00-6576  a65-760 v80  aVARKEVISSER 20093 a<p>There appear to be regional differences in gender ratios of leprosy patients being diagnosed and treated. In Asian countries, more men than women are registered whilst in Africa female patients outnumber males. The Netherlands Leprosy Relief (NLR) therefore initiated research into factors underlying these regional gender differences. Between 1997 and 1999, leprosy control teams in Indonesia, Nigeria, Nepal and Brazil supported by social/public health scientists, conducted comparative exploratory research. They looked at three groups of potential explanatory factors: biological, socio-cultural/economic and service-related. The studies were partially quantitative (analysis of the records of patients who according to prescription could have completed treatment) and partially qualitative (interviews/focus group discussions with patients, their relatives, community members and health staff on perceptions of leprosy, its socio-economic consequences, treatment and cure). Biological factors appeared similar in the four countries: irrespective of the M/F ratio, more men than women were registered with multibacillary (MB) leprosy. Strong traditions, the low status of women, their limited mobility, illiteracy and poor knowledge of leprosy appeared to be important sociocultural factors explaining why women were under reporting. Yet, accessible, well reputed services augmented female participation and helped to diminish stigma, which in three out of the four societies seemed greater for women than for men. These positive effects could still be higher if the services would enhance community and patient education with active participation of patients and ex-patients themselves.</p>  a0305-7518