02126nas a2200181 4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653002100058100001300079700001200092700001300104700001400117700002000131700001200151245013100163520163600294022001401930 2021 d bElsevier BV10aGeneral Medicine1 aReddy NV1 aSinha P1 aYadav AK1 aKothari R1 aRadhakrishnan S1 aNeema S00aAwareness of Leprosy in an urban slum of Western Maharashtra Post 35 Years of the National Leprosy Eradication ProgramĀ (NLEP)3 aBackground
Even after 35 years of the National Leprosy Eradication Program (NLEP) and 15 years post-elimination, leprosy continues to be a public health challenge in India. This paper discusses the current awareness of leprosy among people living in urban slums of western Maharashtra.
Methods
The study was conducted in an urban slum of western Maharashtra with 400 participants. A closed-ended questionnaire regarding the knowledge, attitude, practices, and stigma existing among the people was administered, followed by a small awareness talk and screening for leprosy.
Results
Of the total 400 participants, 205 (51.25) were females and 195 (48.75) were males. Only 154/400 (38.5%) people were aware of leprosy. 130/400 (32.5%) people thought that it is treatable; however, 71/130 (54.6) of them thought that it would recur even after completing the treatment. Only 103/400 (25.75) said that they would marry a person with leprosy, denoting prevalent stigma in the society, and 79/400 (19.75) were aware of government services for leprosy and NLEP. Screening of all the participants surveyed did not reveal any new or doubtful cases of leprosy.
Conclusion
The present study shows a lack of awareness and knowledge of leprosy among the target population. With only 20% of them being aware of government services and the NLEP, combined with an extremely low knowledge about the disease; it shows the need to further augment the government programs. There is also an increasing need to educate people to accomplish a positive attitude of the community towards leprosy patients. a0377-1237