TY - JOUR
KW - Stigma
KW - Social acceptance
KW - Leprosy control
KW - leprosy
KW - Disability
KW - Community
KW - Awareness
AB - As the leprosy burden has declined considerably, we need to understand the current social status of the
disease and patients. A qualitative study was conducted in a rural community near Chennai in Tamil Nadu,
between March and October 2011. In-depth interviews with 72 leprosy patients from 25 villages and 3 focus
group discussions (FGDs) with 26 women from 3 villages were conducted using a guide. The qualitative data
were grouped into different domains and analysed. Most of them did not have basic knowledge on leprosy;
instead there were misconceptions on cause and spread of leprosy. Nearly one third of the patients had not
disclosed about the disease to their spouse, family members, relatives or friends for fear of social rejection,
discrimination and ill treatment. In all, more than half of them had self-stigma and, most of them who had
deformity faced actual stigma by way of disowning, isolation and social rejection. Many patients, particularly
PB cases had the behavior of “denial”. FGD women reported of self and actual stigma, particularly towards
deformity and disfigurement, for fear of getting infected. Stigma among patients with deformity, and denial
of the disease among PB cases, were highlighted. Importance of awareness programmes to remove
misconceptions related to cause and spread of the disease was stressed. Need for person-centered social
treatment was suggested for increased case detection..

BT - Indian journal of leprosy
CN - THILAKAVATHI 2012
J2 - Indian J Lepr
LA - eng
N2 - As the leprosy burden has declined considerably, we need to understand the current social status of the
disease and patients. A qualitative study was conducted in a rural community near Chennai in Tamil Nadu,
between March and October 2011. In-depth interviews with 72 leprosy patients from 25 villages and 3 focus
group discussions (FGDs) with 26 women from 3 villages were conducted using a guide. The qualitative data
were grouped into different domains and analysed. Most of them did not have basic knowledge on leprosy;
instead there were misconceptions on cause and spread of leprosy. Nearly one third of the patients had not
disclosed about the disease to their spouse, family members, relatives or friends for fear of social rejection,
discrimination and ill treatment. In all, more than half of them had self-stigma and, most of them who had
deformity faced actual stigma by way of disowning, isolation and social rejection. Many patients, particularly
PB cases had the behavior of “denial”. FGD women reported of self and actual stigma, particularly towards
deformity and disfigurement, for fear of getting infected. Stigma among patients with deformity, and denial
of the disease among PB cases, were highlighted. Importance of awareness programmes to remove
misconceptions related to cause and spread of the disease was stressed. Need for person-centered social
treatment was suggested for increased case detection..

PY - 2012
SP - 233
EP - 240
T2 - Indian journal of leprosy
TI - Awareness, social acceptance and community views on leprosy and its relevance for leprosy control, Tamil Nadu
UR - http://ijl.org.in/jul-sep/7%20S%20Thilakavathi%20(7).pdf
VL - 84
ER -