OBJECTIVE: To study the marriage status, labour ability, income and other living condition of people affected by leprosy, and to provide information on prevention, cure and salvation programs from the government.
METHODS: Based on the standardized national criteria and method, all registered people affected by leprosy in the whole province were asked to fill in a nationally standardized Form.
RESULTS: Out of the 13,034 cases, 91.19% were farmers and only 13.01% of the teenagers were at school. On 12,816 patients at age for marriage, there were more unmarried males than females, more living in the leprosy villages than those living outside of the leprosy village (P < 0.01). Disability rate in leprosy villages was seen more than outside of the leprosy village. Per capita average annual income for the people affected by leprosy was only half of the average individual income in the whole province and 1/4 of the individual income in the nation.
CONCLUSION: The living condition of those leprosy-affected people, particularly living in leprosy villages, called for special attention and the government should take comprehensive prevention to publicize the knowledge on leprosy to reduce fear and discrimination against them.
a0254-6450