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Level of public awareness on leprosy and its effects on leprosy control programmes in Anambra and Ebonyi States of Southeast Nigeria.

Abstract

Three related objectives informed this research paper. The first was to ascertain the level of awareness about leprosy among residents of Anambra and Ebonyi states of Southeast Nigeria. The second was to find out if there were differentials in levels of awareness about leprosy across socio-economic profile of residents of the two areas. The third objective interrogated how the prevailing level of awareness in the area affected the effectiveness of leprosy control programme in the area.

The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. Quantitative data was generated through structured questionnaire schedule administered on 1116 study participants, selected through a combination of cluster and simple random sampling methods. Qualitative data were generated through Focus Group Discussion (FGD) administered to persons affected by leprosy and In-Depth Interview (IDI) of leprosy control staff and officials of both World Health Organization and the donor agency supporting leprosy control in the two states. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was employed in analysis of data. Frequency tables, percentages, bar charts, chi-square and multiple regressions were used for presentation, analysis and in testing the stated hypotheses.

It was found that leprosy was considered as a serious health problem by most of the respondents (66.5%).The level of awareness about the disease which has several local names in the area was relatively high (89.6%). There was no significant difference in the level of awareness between older and younger respondents, income generating and non income generating respondents. However, significant differences exist in levels of awareness about leprosy between respondents with different educational attainments (X2=43.916, df=8, p=0.000), across urban and rural residents, male and female respondents, and between different religious affiliations. Multiple regression analysis conducted to predict the net and pure effects of socio-demographic variables on awareness of leprosy when the factors act simultaneously showed that religion, income and locality were positively associated with awareness while age, gender, education and occupation have negative association.

Other factors that were found to affect leprosy control in the area were belief system, lack of community participation, poverty, poor political commitment/ funding, low literacy level of patients and the public.

It was recommended that aggressive public enlightenment through public, private and local media; incentive package for health workers; socio-economic empowerment for effective rehabilitation of patients; prohibition of socio-cultural practices that promote the spread of leprosy etc; be adopted to enhance leprosy control in Anambra and Ebonyi states.

More information

Type
Journal Article
Author
Nwankwo I U

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