Public Perception of Communicable Disease and Health Care Practices: The Case of Leprosy in <I>Bahir Dar</I> City, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Communicable diseases constitute the leading cause of health and health related problems in Ethiopia. From communicable diseases, leprosy belongs to the category of chronic contagious disease which has been known as a major public health problem for more than half a century. In Ethiopia leprosy is believed to be eliminated. However, the new incidence of leprosy in eighty seven districts is an issue that calls for special attention. Their health care practice is largely found under the sphere of clinical based research. Still, these researches have limitations in giving due emphasis for emic perspectives. The main objective of this study is, thus, to investigate public perceptions of leprosy and health care practices in Bahir Dar city. Accordingly, health perception of an individual is determined by the social network or information they acquired. Marriage and living with persons affected by leprosy are considered as causes and agents of transmission of leprosy. Moreover, the cause of leprosy is associated with elephantiasis through the account of both disease complications. In general, leprosy is still perceived as a genetic disease. In fact, the treatment preference of leprosy patients is not only depends on illness causation beliefs; social responses of the community highly influence treatment seeking behaviors of the patients. Stigma, discrimination, and less attention given to the role of the community, absence of separate rehabilitation center and the general notion held being leprosy is reduced, less attention given to control leprosy and to its social dimensions is not adequate are found major constraints for the effectiveness of leprosy control. It also advised that, appropriate pathological terminologies for social and cultural beliefs have to be coined and well organized health education, social and economic rehabilitation and early case detection should be made to promote health and to mitigate the incidence and prevalence of the disease.