Biomaterial Database

Leprosy: between acceptance and segregation. Community behaviour towards persons affected by leprosy in eastern Nepal. 2000

D H de Stigter, and L de Geus, and M L Heynders

NSL Eastern Leprosy Control Project, PO Box 134, Biratnagar, Nepal.

This study describes community behaviour towards persons affected by leprosy in the eastern Terai districts of Nepal. The results show that 95% of the persons affected by leprosy recognized by the community have visible signs such as wounds, swellings and deformed feet or hands. Persons affected by leprosy still experience negative behaviour. Motives for negative community behaviour are mostly found in the fact that people fear infection by germs, but fear of a curse from God is also mentioned. This study shows that negative community behaviour is still present in eastern Nepal. Leprosy is more than a disease; the disease can nowadays be medically cured, but the sickness of leprosy still remains. Leprosy control programmes should focus on prevention of impairments and disabilities, because it seems that a visible sign is an important trigger for negative community behaviour.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007722	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice	Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL).	Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
D007918	Leprosy	A chronic granulomatous infection caused by MYCOBACTERIUM LEPRAE. The granulomatous lesions are manifested in the skin, the mucous membranes, and the peripheral nerves. Two polar or principal types are lepromatous and tuberculoid.	Hansen's Disease,Hansen Disease
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009390	Nepal	Country located in southern Asia, between China and India. The capital is Kathmandu.	Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
D011584	Psychology	The science dealing with the study of mental processes and behavior in man and animals.	Factors, Psychological,Psychological Factors,Psychological Side Effects,Psychologists,Psychosocial Factors,Side Effects, Psychological,Factor, Psychological,Factor, Psychosocial,Factors, Psychosocial,Psychological Factor,Psychological Side Effect,Psychologist,Psychosocial Factor,Side Effect, Psychological
D011788	Quality of Life	A generic concept reflecting concern with the modification and enhancement of life attributes, e.g., physical, political, moral, social environment as well as health and disease.	HRQOL,Health-Related Quality Of Life,Life Quality,Health Related Quality Of Life
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D003256	Community Participation	Involvement of members of the community in the affairs of that community.	Community Action,Consumer Involvement,Consumer Participation,Community Involvement,Public Participation,Action, Community,Actions, Community,Community Actions,Community Involvements,Consumer Involvements,Involvement, Community,Involvement, Consumer,Involvements, Community,Participation, Community,Participation, Consumer,Participation, Public
D003625	Data Collection	Systematic gathering of data for a particular purpose from various sources, including questionnaires, interviews, observation, existing records, and electronic devices. The process is usually preliminary to statistical analysis of the data.	Data Collection Methods,Dual Data Collection,Collection Method, Data,Collection Methods, Data,Collection, Data,Collection, Dual Data,Data Collection Method,Method, Data Collection,Methods, Data Collection