To evaluate the health education component of our National Leprosy Control Programme (NLCP), 955 adult community members and 225 adult leprosy patients were interviewed with a view to assess their awareness about leprosy and participation in NLCP. The early signs/symptoms of leprosy were poorly perceived by the community. Majority of the community (81%) and patients (75%) were unaware or held superstitious ideas about causation of leprosy. The spread of disease through close contact with patient(s) was better known to the community (65%) than the patients (45%); but the role of open cases in spread was stressed by more patients (17%) than community (5.5%). About 31% community and 23% patients had no idea about the ways to prevent leprosy spread. As against 89% patients, only 62% community believed in curability of leprosy with early and regular treatment; but 20% of the community members did not know where to refer patients for treatment. The causation and prevention of deformities were poorly perceived by 71% patients, and likewise 62% of the patients did not take precaution(s) to prevent the deformities. About 32% respondents were unaware of the efforts being made to control leprosy; and their (79-84% respondents) participation in NLCP was very vague. About 44% community members showed prejudice towards leprosy. The NLCP infra-structure and mass media could not educate community effectively. The implications of the findings are discussed in this paper.
BT - Leprosy in India C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6668929?dopt=Abstract CN - Infolep Library - available DA - 1983 Oct IS - 4 J2 - Lepr India LA - eng N2 -To evaluate the health education component of our National Leprosy Control Programme (NLCP), 955 adult community members and 225 adult leprosy patients were interviewed with a view to assess their awareness about leprosy and participation in NLCP. The early signs/symptoms of leprosy were poorly perceived by the community. Majority of the community (81%) and patients (75%) were unaware or held superstitious ideas about causation of leprosy. The spread of disease through close contact with patient(s) was better known to the community (65%) than the patients (45%); but the role of open cases in spread was stressed by more patients (17%) than community (5.5%). About 31% community and 23% patients had no idea about the ways to prevent leprosy spread. As against 89% patients, only 62% community believed in curability of leprosy with early and regular treatment; but 20% of the community members did not know where to refer patients for treatment. The causation and prevention of deformities were poorly perceived by 71% patients, and likewise 62% of the patients did not take precaution(s) to prevent the deformities. About 32% respondents were unaware of the efforts being made to control leprosy; and their (79-84% respondents) participation in NLCP was very vague. About 44% community members showed prejudice towards leprosy. The NLCP infra-structure and mass media could not educate community effectively. The implications of the findings are discussed in this paper.
PY - 1983 SP - 701 EP - 11 T2 - Leprosy in India TI - Community awareness about leprosy and participation in National Leprosy Control Programme. VL - 55 SN - 0024-1024 ER -