02255nas a2200301   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001000059653001100069653004200080653001100122653001000133653002800143653001200171653000900183653002000192653001600212100001900228700001500247700001800262245011500280856006500395300001100460490000700471050002200478520143900500022001401939       2012                            d  c2012 Jul-Sep10aAdult10aFemale10aHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice10aHumans10aIndia10aInterpersonal Relations10aleprosy10aMale10aSocial Distance10aYoung Adult1 aThilakavathi S1 aManickam P1 aMehendale S M00aAwareness, social acceptance and community views on leprosy and its relevance for leprosy control, Tamil Nadu.  uhttp://www.ijl.org.in/jul-sep/7%20S%20Thilakavathi%20(7).pdf  a233-400 v84  aTHILAKAVATHI 20123 a<p>As the leprosy burden has declined considerably, we need to understand the current social status of the disease and patients. A qualitative study was conducted in a rural community near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, between March and October 2011. In-depth interviews with 72 leprosy patients from 25 villages and 3 focus group discussions (FGDs) with 26 women from 3 villages were conducted using a guide. The qualitative data were grouped into different domains and analysed. Most of them did not have basic knowledge on leprosy; instead there were misconceptions on cause and spread of leprosy. Nearly one third of the patients had not disclosed about the disease to their spouse, family members, relatives or friends for fear of social rejection, discrimination and ill treatment. In all, more than half of them had self-stigma and, most of them who had deformity faced actual stigma by way of disowning, isolation and social rejection. Many patients, particularly PB cases had the behavior of "denial". FGD women reported of self and actual stigma, particularly towards deformity and disfigurement, for fear of getting infected. Stigma among patients with deformity, and denial of the disease among PB cases, were highlighted. Importance of awareness programmes to remove misconceptions related to cause and spread of the disease was stressed. Need for person-centered social treatment was suggested for increased case detection.</p>  a0254-9395