02045nas a2200349   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653000900055653002200064653002000086653001100106653001700117653001100134653002400145653001200169653001500181653001600196653001700212653001400229653001100243653001900254100001200273700001100285700001000296245009000306856005100396300001100447490000700458050003200465520118400497022001401681       2006                            d  c2006 Jun10aAged10aAged, 80 and over10aChronic Disease10aFemale10aFocus Groups10aHumans10aInterviews as Topic10aleprosy10aLife Style10aMiddle Aged10aStereotyping10aSurvivors10aTaiwan10aWomen's Health1 aShieh C1 aWang H1 aLin C00aFrom contagious to chronic: a life course experience with leprosy in Taiwanese women.  uhttps://leprosyreview.org/article/77/2/09-9113  a99-1130 v77  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>This study used the narrative analysis method to explore stories told by Taiwanese women who had suffered from leprosy. Twenty-one women from a leprosarium, a long-term care centre, and the community participated in either focus group discussions or individual interviews. The age range for the participants was 54-88, with an average of 68 years old. Physical impairments and disabilities of the participants included skin scars, claw fingers, drop feet, amputated legs, and facial disfigurement. Their stories were analysed in two phases: structural and holistic content analyses. Structural analysis identified four life stages: before being diagnosed, after being diagnosed, living with leprosy, and the future. Holistic content analysis uncovered common themes in each life stage. Findings indicated that stigma was experienced throughout the life course of these women. At this stage of life, these women were facing not only physical impairments and disabilities from the leprosy, but also the usual chronic health problems of the elderly. This study suggests that prevention and treatment of leprosy-related physical impairments and chronic diseases are important.</p>  a0305-7518