“A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECT OF HEALTH EDUCATION ON KNOWLEDGE REGARDING LEPROSY AMONG PEOPLE IN SELECTED URBAN AREAS OF PUNE CITY’’

Abstract

Leprosy also known as Hansen's disease (HD) , is a long term infection by the bacteriamycobacterium leprae or mycobacterium lepromatos is infection can lead to damage of the nerves , respiratory tract , skin and eyes The nerve damge may result in a lack of ability to feel pain , which can lead to the loss of parts of a persons extremities from repeated injuries or infection through unnoticed wounds .An infected person may also experience muscle weakness and poor eyesight . Leprosy symptoms may begin within one year but ,for some people , symptoms may take 20 years or more to occur. METHODOLOGY: In the present study pre-experimental design with pre and post test was used ,Data collected on 100 ( 50 control and 50 experimental ) Samples .A non probability convenient sampling technique was used to collect data from the samples. Tool was constructed to identify the demographic variables and a set of self structured questionnaires on knowledge regarding leprosy .RESULT: Findings showed that in the pre -test the level of knowledge of Leprosy among people were average with mean 6.54 and in the post test it was good with mean score of 9.8 in the experimental group. An effective health education campaign was found to greatly increase people's knowledge of Leprosy. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of health education regarding leprosy in post experimental group with 9.8 mean and SD 2.54 .The value of t is 2.670062 .the value of p is 01026. The result is significant at p<.05