Physical and Psychosocial Impact in patients with leprosy

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by mycobacterium leprae (M. Leprae). Leprosy known as “Kushtha Rog” in Hindi is often referred to as the ‘oldest disease known to man’. Among communicable disease, leprosy is a leading cause of permanent disability. However, today leprosy is no more a dreaded disease; it is curable and is capable of being eliminated as a public health problem through organized case detection and treatment. 1 Early detection of leprosy depends almost completely on voluntary reporting which implies awareness of the disease and its treatment facilities. 2. Disability in leprosy affects the activities of daily living in all hemispheres. A descriptive study with survey research design was carried out to assess the awareness about leprosy and its physical and psychosocial impact on patients suffering with leprosy related disability. Data were collected from 150 patients suffering with leprosy related disability by Non-probability purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed by using Descriptive and inferential statistics. The overall study revealed that out of 150 subjects i.e. 77(51.3%) had moderate awareness, 44% subjects had good awareness, very few 7(4.7%) had less awareness. Majority of the subjects i.e. 70 experience moderate difficulty while performing task (Physical impact) whereas those patients having more than three disabilities experience severe difficulty. Psychosocial impact highlights the fact that Self -perceived stigma is more among subjects. Correlation between awareness level and physical impact using Pearson correlation method clearly depicts that there is a negative correlation between the two, which means as the awareness increases physical impact decreases. Hence, prevention of disability and proper rehabilitation should be of prime concern. For preventing the disability and apt rehabilitation, it is essential to have awareness about leprosy and its physical and psychosocial impact among patients suffering with leprosy related disability.