225 adult leprosy patients attending the CLTRI, were interviewed to study their illness and medical agency utilization behaviours. Almost all patients perceived their disease as leprosy but 71.50% did not know how they got it. 10-11% did not reveal the disease to their family for fear of rejection. The time-lag between first suspicion and medical consultation was 1 year or more in 48% of cases. For treatment of leprosy, 36-38% of patients consulted Private Practitioners and General Hospitals, at one or the other time. 42.6% of patients changed 3 or more medical agencies for treatment. On an average patient had taken 62.39% of expected treatment. 41% of patients were not aware of the name of drug (DDS) they were taking. 44% of patients had tried home remedies. Most of the patients preferred to take treatment at leprosy referral hospitals.
BT - Leprosy in India C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6982374?dopt=Abstract CN - Infolep Library - available DA - 1982 Apr IS - 2 J2 - Lepr India LA - eng N2 -225 adult leprosy patients attending the CLTRI, were interviewed to study their illness and medical agency utilization behaviours. Almost all patients perceived their disease as leprosy but 71.50% did not know how they got it. 10-11% did not reveal the disease to their family for fear of rejection. The time-lag between first suspicion and medical consultation was 1 year or more in 48% of cases. For treatment of leprosy, 36-38% of patients consulted Private Practitioners and General Hospitals, at one or the other time. 42.6% of patients changed 3 or more medical agencies for treatment. On an average patient had taken 62.39% of expected treatment. 41% of patients were not aware of the name of drug (DDS) they were taking. 44% of patients had tried home remedies. Most of the patients preferred to take treatment at leprosy referral hospitals.
PY - 1982 SP - 338 EP - 47 T2 - Leprosy in India TI - Illness and service utilization behaviours of leprosy patients. VL - 54 SN - 0024-1024 ER -