01709nas a2200145   4500000000100000008004100001100001800042700001700060700001400077245005600091856007500147300001000222490000700232520132400239       2022                            d1 aGovindharaj P1 aSrinivasan S1 aDarlong J00aDisease Disruption among People Affected by Leprosy  uhttps://ijl.org.in/2022/3%20G%20Pitchaimani%20et%20al%20%20(23-31).pdf  a23-310 v943 a<p>Stigma-associated psychosocial problems are common in leprosy. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the disease disruption among people affected by leprosy (PAL). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 358 people affected by leprosy above the age of 18, married and who were reporting at the tertiary leprosy referral hospital, Purulia, West Bengal. A semi-structured questionnaire was prepared and validated to collect the demographic and disease profile. The 11 points numerical rating scale was used to measure the disease disruption in family, social and work life. The results showed that 42%, 57% and 82% of the respondents felt that their disease conditions did not disrupt their work life, social life, and family life respectively. Association test showed that the male respondents experienced more disruption in their social life whereas female respondents experienced more in their family life. People with disability due to leprosy disease and disease duration above three years experienced more disruption in their work, social and family life due to disease than the people without disability and disease duration less than three years. The study emphasizes that awareness about leprosy should be improved among the family and community to enhance positive attitudes towards the disease.</p>