Knowledge and perception of leprosy amongst high school students in Italy: A survey

Objectives: This study explores knowledge and perception of leprosy among adolescent Italian high school students. It primarily aimed to survey their knowledge and educate them about the social stigma linked with this infection, both past and present; it also introduced them to the academic research process. Adolescents were selected for the survey to compare the data with a previous survey of adults. The survey was part of an outreach program included in a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions project on medical care for people with leprosy buried in leprosaria cemeteries in medieval Europe.

Methods: During 2020 and 2021, 15–17-year-old Italian high school students completed 10 questions about leprosy in an online anonymous questionnaire via Google Forms. A final open question asked for five words that ‘leprosy’ evoked in them.

Results: 533 students completed the questionnaire. The results demonstrate that leprosy is believed to be a disease of the past and students were not aware of the nature of leprosy, where it is found today, and how it is treated.

Conclusion: More work is needed to educate upcoming generations about neglected infectious diseases, like leprosy. This is important to avoid misunderstandings provoking stigma around people who have leprosy today, a disease that can be easily cured.