Profile of functional limitation using Screening of Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness Scale in leprosy population of Mysore district

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is known as Hansen's disease, a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It can be seen in all ages, from early infancy to old age. It is a significant cause of preventable disability. The impairments give rise to disabilities, such as limitations in performing activities involving using hands, feet, and eyes and restrictions in social participation. Functional movements are most important to fulfill one's activities of daily living.OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to identify the functional limitations using the Screening of Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness (SALSA) Scale in the leprosy population of Mysore district.METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 92 participants diagnosed with leprosy and collected socioeconomic and clinical data. Each participant was evaluated for functional limitations using the SALSA Scale.RESULTS: The participants were mainly male (58) and fewer female (34) with a minimum of one impairment. The result is written based on the five primary domains of the SALSA Scale. The study showed that 39.65% of participants did not present significant functional limitations and 24.36% of participants reported mild functional limitations. In comparison, 12.35% were moderately functionally limited, 14.32% had severe functional limitations, and 9.32% showed extremely severe limitations which described the most difficult activity were fine motor activity.CONCLUSION: The study concludes that difficult functional activity reported by participants with leprosy was fine motor activity and hand sensation to carry the hot objects according to the profiling by SALSA Scale which intern leads to difficulty in quality of life.