02432nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001900054653002800073653001200101653001800113653002500131653001900156100001400175700001500189700001500204700001300219700001400232700001300246700001800259700001400277700001500291700001200306700001500318245019600333856008600529520148900615022001402104       2020                            d  c02/202010aChagas disease10acutaneous leishmaniasis10aleprosy10amental health10asocial participation10astigmatization1 aGómez LJ1 avan Wijk R1 avan Selm L1 aRivera A1 aBarbosa M1 aParisi S1 avan Brakel WH1 aArevalo J1 aQuintero W1 aWaltz M1 aPuchner KP00aStigma, participation restriction and mental distress in patients affected by leprosy, cutaneous leishmaniasis and Chagas disease: a pilot study in two co-endemic regions of eastern Colombia.  uhttps://academic.oup.com/trstmh/advance-article/doi/10.1093/trstmh/trz132/57349803 a<p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>Leprosy, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and Chagas disease (CD) are neglected tropical diseases with a high psychosocial burden (PSB). These conditions are endemic in Norte de Santander and Arauca in Colombia, but data on the related PSB are scarce. Therefore, we assessed mental distress, participation restriction and stigma among CD, CL and leprosy patients.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>In 2018, 305 leprosy, CD or CL patients were interviewed using a self-report questionnaire to assess mental distress, participation scale for participation restriction and explanatory model interview catalogue (EMIC) for stigma. Descriptive statistics and the significance of median score differences were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Fifty percent of CD patients and 49% of leprosy patients exhibited mental distress, percentages which were significantly higher than that of CL (26%). Twenty-seven percent of leprosy patients experienced participation restriction, which was lower for CL (6%) and CD (12%). Median EMIC scores were significantly higher for leprosy patients than for CD (27%) and CL (17%) patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>We found high levels of PSB among leprosy, CD and CL patients. Mental distress was highest among CD patients. Participation restriction and stigma were more prevalent in leprosy patients. Rural residence or lower educational status may impact PSB. Further investigation is needed to formulate evidence-based, holistic interventions.</p>  a1878-3503