02239nas a2200361   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653004000055653002100095653001100116653001000127653001200137653003700149653002400186653002600210653001400236653003000250653002600280100001500306700002000321700001900341700001500360700001500375700001300390700002000403245012800423856005100551300001100602490000700613050003200620520121100652022001401863       2007                            d  c2007 Dec10aDelivery of Health Care, Integrated10aDisabled Persons10aHumans10aIndia10aleprosy10aOutcome Assessment (Health Care)10aProspective Studies10aRural Health Services10aSelf care10aSeverity of Illness Index10aUrban Health Services1 aMadhavan K1 aVijayakumaran P1 aRamachandran L1 aManickam C1 aRajmohan R1 aMathew J1 aKrishnamurthy P00aSustainable leprosy related disability care within integrated general health services: findings from Salem District, India.  uhttps://leprosyreview.org/article/78/4/35-3361  a353-610 v78  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>The main focus of leprosy control has been case detection and treatment delivery with relative neglect of prevention of disability. Absence of reliable data and lack of research have added to the problem. This raised concerns about the capacity of the general health system to address the needs of people living with leprosy-related disabilities. In this prospective study appropriate services for people living with leprosy-related disabilities were introduced in the form of self-care training, guidance and monitoring by the general health staff facilitated by a non-governmental organisation leprosy centre in a district in south India with a population of 3.1 million (estimated in 2005). The staff identified 1232 people with leprosy-related disabilities and trained them in self-care. Follow-up assessments indicated that 86% were found to be practising self-care regularly and all the 239 general health workers were found to be actively involved. The most heartening outcome was the healing of plantar ulcers in 70% of people at the 1-year follow up. This intervention is sustainable because of the simplicity of the procedures and the involvement of all health staff including supervisors.</p>  a0305-7518