Background/Objectives
The drivers of stigma may vary from one society or country to another; thus, it is necessary to identify these drivers so that stigma elimination programs would be locally relevant. This study aimed to determine the current knowledge and attitudes on leprosy of healthcare workers in a tertiary government hospital in the Philippines which will serve as the basis for our future leprosy awareness campaigns.
Methods
We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among 265 healthcare workers in Rizal Medical Center (RMC), Philippines from January to March 2020 using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographics and study variables.
Results
A majority had high (36.2%) or medium (35.5%) knowledge on leprosy. A majority (62.3%) had positive attitudes towards leprosy. However, only 18.5% knew that leprosy is transmitted through inhalation and a majority thought that it is transmitted either through body fluids and secretions (52.8%) or open wounds (27.5%). Only about half knew that a patient on treatment can no longer transmit the disease and does not need to be isolated, and that a patient who has completed treatment but still exhibits manifestations of the disease can no longer transmit the disease.
Conclusion
Although a majority had either high or medium knowledge on leprosy and a positive attitude towards leprosy, we identified misconceptions and knowledge gaps centered on its mode of transmission and transmissibility which can lead to inappropriate fear of acquiring the disease from patients.
BT - Leprosy Review DO - 10.47276/lr.93.1.26 IS - 1 LA - eng N2 -Background/Objectives
The drivers of stigma may vary from one society or country to another; thus, it is necessary to identify these drivers so that stigma elimination programs would be locally relevant. This study aimed to determine the current knowledge and attitudes on leprosy of healthcare workers in a tertiary government hospital in the Philippines which will serve as the basis for our future leprosy awareness campaigns.
Methods
We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among 265 healthcare workers in Rizal Medical Center (RMC), Philippines from January to March 2020 using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographics and study variables.
Results
A majority had high (36.2%) or medium (35.5%) knowledge on leprosy. A majority (62.3%) had positive attitudes towards leprosy. However, only 18.5% knew that leprosy is transmitted through inhalation and a majority thought that it is transmitted either through body fluids and secretions (52.8%) or open wounds (27.5%). Only about half knew that a patient on treatment can no longer transmit the disease and does not need to be isolated, and that a patient who has completed treatment but still exhibits manifestations of the disease can no longer transmit the disease.
Conclusion
Although a majority had either high or medium knowledge on leprosy and a positive attitude towards leprosy, we identified misconceptions and knowledge gaps centered on its mode of transmission and transmissibility which can lead to inappropriate fear of acquiring the disease from patients.
PB - Lepra PY - 2022 SP - 26 EP - 37 T2 - Leprosy Review TI - Knowledge and attitudes on leprosy of healthcare workers in a tertiary government hospital in the Philippines UR - https://leprosyreview.org/admin/public/api/lepra/website/getDownload/622eb556afaac16a14771874 VL - 93 SN - 2162-8807 ER -