01612nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653004200055653001100097653001200108653001000120653001400130653002100144100001200165245009400177300001100271490000700282050001500289520107600304022001401380       2006                            d  c2006 Aug10aHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice10aHumans10aleprosy10aNepal10aPrejudice10aSelf-help groups1 aCross H00aInterventions to address the stigma associated with leprosy: a perspective on the issues.  a367-730 v11  aCROSS 20063 a<p>This paper presents a perspective on stigma as an effect of leprosy. It identifies some of the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to stigma reduction in leprosy and presents a rationale for considering alternative strategies. It is suggested that models used to explain health behavior in developed societies are inappropriate for explaining leprosy stigma or for developing strategies to address it. The author recommends due consideration of the alternative logic that characterizes cultural belief systems in countries where leprosy is a challenge. Criticism of the common practice of information dissemination as a strategy to address leprosy stigma is defended and the merits and limitations of an integrated health service in India is discussed. The author defends the suggestion that the principal objective of stigma interventions should be "normalization". An example of a Nepalese project based on empowerment theory is given to demonstrate how the transformation of identity from outcast to positive change agent, can effect "normalization".</p>  a1354-8506