Perceptions of Leprosy and Its Attributes Among Health Care Workers in Karachi, Pakistan

Vol. 3 No. 3

Year: 2013

Issue: Aug-Oct

Title : Perceptions of Leprosy and Its Attributes Among Health Care Workers in Karachi, Pakistan

Author Name : Saleema, Jacoline Sommer, Muhammad Shahid, Yasmin Parpio, Noureen N Karamali

Synopsis :

Leprosy is one of the socially stigmatized diseases known today which affects the social status of an individual as much as the physical, eventually impacting one's status in society. Nerve destruction leads to weakness in the hand and feet resulting in deformity. According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2013) official reports depicted that the global registered prevalence of leprosy at the beginning of 2012 stood at 181,941 cases from 105 countries. A quantitative, analytical cross-sectional design was considered to compare the knowledge and perceptions about Leprosy among Health Care Providers (HCPs) who were directly and indirectly involved in taking care of Leprosy patients. Stratified random sampling was employed to recruit 65 HCPs from NGOs, government and private hospitals. The Result has shown significant difference between two groups directly and indirectly involved in Leprosy care patients. The HCPs directly involved in providing care and possess sound knowledge about Leprosy were 98% and hence involved in providing holistic care including psychological aspects. Whereas, 40% health care providers who were not involved in direct care were not equipped with updated information and thus having fear about contracting disease resulting in ineffective care provision. It is concluded from the findings of the study that there is a strong association between knowledge about Leprosy and its perception. The in-depth knowledge and positive perception about Leprosy will help patients to receive quality care from HCPs and this will eventually reduce the stigmatization effect in society.

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