Health Seeking Behavior of Leprosy Patients: A Hospital Based Study

Health-seeking habits play a critical role in early diagnosis and effective treatment for leprosy. The utilization of a health care system depends on socio-demographic factors, social structures, level of education, cultural beliefs and practices, gender discrimination, status of women, economic and political systems, environmental conditions, disease pattern and health care system itself. A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the health-seeking behavior of the patients with leprosy. A total of 46 patients with leprosy attending Dermatology OPD, RIMS, Ranchi were interviewed through semi-structured questionnaire during the period between June 2015 to November 2015. It was observed that out of 46 leprosy patients, 31(67.4%) were males and 15(32.6%) females. Mean and standard deviation of age of patients was 38 years and 14.5 years respectively. Majority [35(76%)] of the patients belong to lower class according to updated Kuppuswamy's scale. It was observed that 19(41.3%) patients did not have any knowledge about the disease. 5(10.86%) knew only the name of the disease and the remaining 21(45.65%) had other views about the disease like curse, myth, allergy, trauma etc. Only 1(2.17%) patient who was well educated and belonging to upper middle class knew about the exact cause of the disease and its complications. 20 patient diagnosed in first visits of which 6 went to Tertiary Health Centre, remaining 14 went to either General Practitioner or PHC/CHC. 26 patient nd rd diagnosed in 2 or 3 visit of which 7 went to Quacks, 1 went to Faith healer, 6 went to Homeopathic/ Ayurvedic clinic in their first visit and remaining 12 could not be diagnosed by General Practitioner or PHC Doctors in their first visit. While there is need to expand this study to a larger number of patients in different settings, this preliminary data indicates major problem in health seeking behaviour of leprosy patients and also quality of care in this region. Sensitization of health care providers (qualified as well as not qualified), enlisting their support and awareness campaigns in public will have to be considered and tried for developing an evidence based strategy for this area.