Assessing independence in activities of individuals affected by leprosy
Background
The abilities required to perform the fundamental physical needs of an individual and instrumental activities required for independent living in a community are reduced in individuals affected by leprosy, due to various medical and psychological factors.
Objective
To assess basic life activities, identify critical sociodemographic factors influencing these and ascertain opportunities to improve the independence levels of individuals affected by leprosy.
Material and methods
A survey of 71 participants was conducted from a residential leprosy facility in Srinagar, in the Jammu and Kashmir region of northern India, between 2019–2020. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews of individuals affected by leprosy who were asked questions about sociodemography. The standardised instruments Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) were used. Statistical methods, t-test, ANOVA, correlation and multivariant regression were used to analyse the data.
Results
Among the entire sample (n = 71), 3% of study participants showed complete independence in basic activities and 1% of study participants showed complete independence in instrumental activities. For activities of daily living, dependency was found in physical ambulation (8%), grooming (10%) and bathing (13%). In instrumental activities of daily living, dependency was found in shopping (18%), food preparation (24%), responsibility for own medication (34%) and ability to use a phone (34%). Statistically, a significant correlation was recorded between disease categories, age, employment, and activity independence.
Conclusion
This study concludes that individuals affected by leprosy are severely constrained in carrying out basic and instrumental activities. Dependency increases with age and level of disability. However, being in some kind of employment increases independence levels in both activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living; marriage increases independence in activities of daily living, but not in instrumental activities.