02222nas a2200205   4500000000100000008004100001653001200042653002200054653002000076653002500096653000800121100001300129700001500142245009300157856006600250300001400316490000600330520166600336022001402002       2017                            d10aleprosy10aHealth care needs10aDetection delay10aTreatment regularity10aMDT1 aGuthi VR1 aSreedevi A00aHealth care needs of persons affected by leprosy in Kurnool division of Kurnool district  uhttp://www.ijcmph.com/index.php/ijcmph/article/view/1444/1259  a2474-24810 v43 a<p><strong>Background: </strong>One of the challenges in NLEP-3 is need assessment as well as establishment of well-coordinated services with capacity building for prevention and care of disabilities due to leprosy at primary, secondary and tertiary levels in the country. There is very little data on the types of problems faced by people with leprosy-related disabilities (PLD) and the resulting needs. Aim of the study is to assess the health care needs of study subjects. <strong>Methods: </strong>This is a community based cross–sectional study conducted in Kurnool district. There were 296 registered persons affected by leprosy between May 2012 to October 2013 out of which 276 registered persons affected by leprosy were available for the study. Information collected was place of registration for availing MDT, treatment status, mode of detection, health care provider consulted first etc. <strong>Results: </strong>48.55% of all the registered cases reported voluntarily. (36/276) 13.05% of cases were detected during consultation for other general ailments and 8.69% were detected by health worker during routine field visit. Health worker provided MDT to the persons affected by leprosy at their houses in 14.49% of the cases, 85.51% of the persons obtained MDT from the treatment centre themselves. <strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study concluded that there was encouraging to note that public health system was the predominant health system for seeking health care. Most of the cases reported voluntarily to the health care facility. Majority was aware that leprosy causes deformities but did not know that deformities can be prevented.</p>
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