Leprosy-knowledge, attitudes and practices among clinic attenders.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices among leprosy clinic attendees and to review the epidemiology of leprosy in Trinidad.

DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken utilizing an interviewer administered structured questionnaire. All leprosy clinic attendees over the age of 18 years who attend 3 of the 5 leprosy clinics in Trinidad were included. Data were collected from April to July 2014.

RESULTS: All 21 responders who were invited to participate agreed, giving a response rate of 100%. Fifty-two percent (52%) were unaware of how the disease is contracted. Most patients (81%) believed that educating the public would help eradicate leprosy-related stigma. Ninety percent (90%) reported that they were compliant with taking their medication and 86% reported that they attended all clinic appointments. The majority (76%) felt self-conscious about their disease and 50% have experienced negative feelings after diagnosis.

CONCLUSION: Patients appear to be aware of signs and symptoms of leprosy but less so about transmission. There appears to be a need for educating patients about their illness as well as the public to reduce stigma associated with the illness. There was also a need for counselling of patients to minimize the reported distress, sadness and worry they experience after being diagnosed.

in: Caribbean Public Health Agency. Caribbean Public Health Agency: 60th Annual Scientific Meeting. Kingston, The University of the West Indies. Faculty of Medical Sciences.

LINK to the abstract: http://bases.bireme.br/cgi-bin/wxislind.exe/iah/online/?IsisScript=iah/iah.xis&src=google&base=MedCarib&lang=p&nextAction=lnk&exprSearch=18061&indexSearch=ID