02528nas a2200337   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653003300059653002800092653003800120653001100158653004200169653001100211653001000222653002900232653001200261653000900273653002100282653002100303653002200324653003100346653001600377100001300393700001500406700001600421245015200437300001000589490000700599520157000606022001402176       2011                            d  c2011 Apr-Jun10aAttitude of Health Personnel10aCross-Sectional Studies10aEducation, Medical, Undergraduate10aFemale10aHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice10aHumans10aIndia10aInternship and Residency10aleprosy10aMale10aRural Population10aSchools, Medical10aStudents, Medical10aSurveys and Questionnaires10aYoung Adult1 aGiri P A1 aPhalke D B1 aAarif S M M00aA study of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding leprosy among undergraduates and interns of a medical college and hospital from rural India.  a75-800 v833 a<p>Leprosy is an Infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and acquired through droplet infection. India has been carrying the 2/3rd global leprosy burden. Inadequate or incorrect information and knowledge about the disease and its treatment are the root causes of many stigmas and inhibitions prevalent in the various sections of the community. The present study was undertaken to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding leprosy among undergraduates (final year medical students) and interns of Rural Medical College and Pravara Rural Hospital, Loni, Maharashtra, India. It is heartening to note that most of students and interns had good knowledge about regimens, counselling and were willing to work in leprosy. There were, however, misconceptions about several aspects of diseases which were more in case of final year students compared with interns. Significant improvementin the knowledge of interns in comparison offinal year MBBS students was mostly noted on the aspects like transmission of leprosy, involvement of ulnar nerve in the leprosy, immunological relevance, use of vaccine, treatment of leprosy affected person and leprosy associated stigma. This positive change in attitudes as well as knowledge highlight the requirement of proper training and clinical exposure of medical students and important role of internship. There is need to focus on important aspects (such as cardinal signs, public health aspects and definitions, infectivity, misconception about marriage in which insignificant changes were observed.</p>  a0254-9395