Disclosure of the Disease among People Affected by Leprosy

Today, leprosy is completely curable with multidrug therapy. Unfortunately, the stigma attached to leprosy still persists. Fear of social exclusion prevents disclosure of the disease to the family and community. This study aimed to explore disease disclosure among people affected by leprosy reporting at a leprosy referral centre, Purulia, West Bengal, India. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 358 people affected by leprosy (PAL) ,of the age 18 years and above, married and who were reporting at the tertiary leprosy referral hospital, Purulia, West Bengal. A semi-structured questionnaire was prepared and used to collect the demographic profile, disease profile and disclosure of disease with their family and friends. Of the 358 respondents, 41% were female, 60% were aged between 18 to 45 years, 58% were literate, and 40% of the participants had a physical disability. In disease disclosure, 95% and 43% of them disclosed their disease to their families and friends, respectively. The respondents with disability grade '2' and disease duration above 5 years disclosed their disease status more to their friends than the respondents with grades '0' and grade '1'. People affected by leprosy had disclosed their disease more to their families than friends. At the same time, they felt that it was better not to disclose the disease to their friends. People who disclosed their disease to their family and friends mostly received good support after disease disclosure.