02130nas a2200133   4500000000100000008004100001100001400042700001300056245010300069856008300172300001200255490000700267520172200274       2020                            d1 aSabeena J1 aBindu RS00aGrade 2 Disability in Leprosy and its Predictors: A 10 year Retrospective Study from Kerala, India  uhttp://www.ijl.org.in/2020/08%20Sabeena%20and%20Bindu%20%20199-209%20final.pdf  a199-2090 v923 aGrade 2 disabilities (G2Ds) are the major reason for stigma and discrimination towards leprosy afflicted
persons. Magnitude of G2D and its predictors are important for the planning and implementation of leprosy
control measures. Objective of this study was to find the proportion of patients with G2D and to study the risk
factors of G2D. This study is based on NLEP record for 10 year retrospective data who were treated at
Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, from 2006 to 2015. Transferred in patients,
defaulters and relapsed cases with incomplete documentation were the exclusion criteria. The outcome
variable was G2D, and the independent variables were age, gender, duration, WHO type, clinical type, relapse,
smear positivity and lepra reaction. Chi-square test and logistic regression modelling was done to find out the
relation between the variables. It was observed that 32.2% with age >15 years had G2D. The predictors were
age > 45 (P 0.002), male gender (P 0.001), duration > 1 year (P 0.006), MB type (P< 0.0001) and type 1 lepra
reaction (P 0.012). Age < 15 years constituted 7.4% and 10% had G2D. Almost one third had G2D. Age >45,
males, disease duration >1 year, MB leprosy and type 1 lepra reaction were the clinical predictors of G2D. 7.4%
of leprosy cases in our study group were children and among them G2D was seen in 10% that necessitates
leprosy detection campaigns in schools. These risk factors should be taken into consideration while planning
and implementation of the community based research and leprosy control activities at different levels of
care. Leprosy workers need to be trained in the early detection of MB leprosy and lepra reactions.