The Attitude of People Affected with Leprosy towards Fellow People Affected with Leprosy in an Endemic District, West Bengal, India

Stigma-associated psychosocial problems are common in leprosy. Hence, this study aimed to measure the attitudes of people affected by leprosy towards fellow people affected by leprosy in an endemic district in West Bengal, India. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 358 people affected by leprosy above 18 years and married who reported at a tertiary referral hospital in Purulia, West Bengal. A structured questionnaire was prepared to collect the demographic profile, disease profile and attitudes towards the disease. The results revealed that 132 (37%) of the respondents allowed their children to play with a child affected by leprosy, and 279 (79%) of them would not allow their son/daughter to marry a bride/groom with leprosy. Two hundred and thirty-nine (67%) recorded that people affected by leprosy should not have a child, and 203 (57%) were unwilling to work with someone concerned with leprosy. Two hundred and five (57%) said they would not employ someone with leprosy. Further, the female respondents had adopted a more positive attitude towards having a child of their own by people affected with leprosy, willing to work with them and employ them. While gender, age and duration of disease had relationship with attitude, no such association was observed with disabilities. This study indicates the potential usefulness of improving the knowledge about disease through proper education and awareness and develop positive attitudes towards affected people.