Leprosy is the commonest cause of peripheral neuropathy in the world. This feature causes gross deformities of the face and limbs of infected individuals as well as crippling disabilities involving sight, touch and manual dexterity. Such stigmata intensified the social and economic isolation of patients. Although concerted efforts by national governments and international organisations have made leprosy cease to be a medical problem in most parts of the world, leprosy still remains a "human problem": about 30% of past or present leprosy sufferers in Nigeria are disabled and/or handicapped as a result of the disease. This paper reviews the various factors contributing to leprosy stigma in Nigeria and proposes ways of minimising it.
BT - Acta leprologica C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8970648?dopt=Abstract CN - AWOFESO 1996 DA - 1996 IS - 2 J2 - Acta Leprol LA - eng N2 -Leprosy is the commonest cause of peripheral neuropathy in the world. This feature causes gross deformities of the face and limbs of infected individuals as well as crippling disabilities involving sight, touch and manual dexterity. Such stigmata intensified the social and economic isolation of patients. Although concerted efforts by national governments and international organisations have made leprosy cease to be a medical problem in most parts of the world, leprosy still remains a "human problem": about 30% of past or present leprosy sufferers in Nigeria are disabled and/or handicapped as a result of the disease. This paper reviews the various factors contributing to leprosy stigma in Nigeria and proposes ways of minimising it.
PY - 1996 SP - 89 EP - 91 T2 - Acta leprologica TI - Stigma and socio-economic reintegration of leprosy sufferers in Nigeria. VL - 10 SN - 0001-5938 ER -