TY - JOUR
KW - leprosy stigma
KW - Stigma
KW - Tea Estate Workers
KW - Socio-economic Vulnerability
KW - Geospatial analysis
KW - Healthcare Accessibility
AU - Sani MSS
AU - Paul S
AU - Tajin TA
AU - Labib MIH
AU - Nayem J
AB - <jats:p>Leprosy remains a major public health and social challenge among marginalized tea estate workers in Sylhet District, Bangladesh, despite the availability of multidrug therapy (MDT). Existing studies have primarily emphasized clinical management, while paying limited attention to the spatial dimensions of stigma and its socioeconomic consequences within plantation communities. This study examines the spatial distribution of leprosy-related stigma and its influence on socioeconomic reintegration in Malnicherra and Lakkatura Tea Estates. A mixed-methods approach integrating geospatial analysis, correlation analysis, and Ridge Regression modelling was applied to survey data collected from 385 current and former leprosy patients via snowball sampling. The findings reveal that Lakkatura Tea Estate experiences higher concentrations of leprosy cases, greater stigma intensity, poorer healthcare accessibility, and greater economic vulnerability than Malnicherra. Social exclusion and discriminatory treatment were identified as major barriers to livelihood recovery and community reintegration. Correlation analysis demonstrated that long-term residence within tea estates was positively associated with stigma and income vulnerability, including Community Treatment After Knowing Leprosy (r = 0.12) and Impact on Ability to Earn Income (r = 0.10), while community participation showed a negative relationship with mental wellbeing impacts (r = −0.12). Ridge Regression analysis further revealed that discriminatory community behaviour significantly intensified economic hardship (β = 0.064), whereas improved healthcare accessibility and community participation reduced socioeconomic vulnerability. The study concludes that medical treatment alone is insufficient to address leprosy-related stigma and recommends integrated healthcare, livelihood rehabilitation, sanitation improvement, mental health support, and community-based stigma reduction to improve reintegration and quality of life</jats:p>
BT - International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation
DA - 06/2026
DO - 10.51244/ijrsi.2026.1306000205
IS - 6
LA - ENG
M3 - Article 
N2 - <jats:p>Leprosy remains a major public health and social challenge among marginalized tea estate workers in Sylhet District, Bangladesh, despite the availability of multidrug therapy (MDT). Existing studies have primarily emphasized clinical management, while paying limited attention to the spatial dimensions of stigma and its socioeconomic consequences within plantation communities. This study examines the spatial distribution of leprosy-related stigma and its influence on socioeconomic reintegration in Malnicherra and Lakkatura Tea Estates. A mixed-methods approach integrating geospatial analysis, correlation analysis, and Ridge Regression modelling was applied to survey data collected from 385 current and former leprosy patients via snowball sampling. The findings reveal that Lakkatura Tea Estate experiences higher concentrations of leprosy cases, greater stigma intensity, poorer healthcare accessibility, and greater economic vulnerability than Malnicherra. Social exclusion and discriminatory treatment were identified as major barriers to livelihood recovery and community reintegration. Correlation analysis demonstrated that long-term residence within tea estates was positively associated with stigma and income vulnerability, including Community Treatment After Knowing Leprosy (r = 0.12) and Impact on Ability to Earn Income (r = 0.10), while community participation showed a negative relationship with mental wellbeing impacts (r = −0.12). Ridge Regression analysis further revealed that discriminatory community behaviour significantly intensified economic hardship (β = 0.064), whereas improved healthcare accessibility and community participation reduced socioeconomic vulnerability. The study concludes that medical treatment alone is insufficient to address leprosy-related stigma and recommends integrated healthcare, livelihood rehabilitation, sanitation improvement, mental health support, and community-based stigma reduction to improve reintegration and quality of life</jats:p>
PB - RSIS International
PY - 2026
SP - 2881 
EP -  2902
T2 - International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation
TI - Geospatial Analysis of Leprosy Stigma and Socio-economic Reintegration among Tea Laborers: A Case Study in Tea Estates of Sylhet District, Bangladesh
UR - https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrsi/uploads/vol13-iss6-pg2881-2902-202606_pdf.pdf
VL - 13
SN - 2321-2705, 2321-2705
ER -