A comparative assessment of quality of life and leprosy related knowledge and attitude in two urban communities

Ayushi Rana; Kamlesh Chandra Bairwa

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20262748

Authors

Ayushi Rana Department of Hospital Administration, AIIMS Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
Kamlesh Chandra Bairwa Department of Nursing, AIIMS Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20262748

Keywords:

Knowledge, Leprosy, Quality of life, Slum

Abstract

Background: In India, health care providers thought they had vanquished leprosy in 2005. But it lived on, cloaked in stigma and medical mystery. Leprosy causes well-defined deformities and imposes a massive social stigma which in turn, makes the disease harder to detect and banish. To assess and compare the quality of life, knowledge, attitude, regarding leprosy among adults residing in selected leprosy colony and urban slum.

Methods: Quantitative research approach was used with descriptive comparative design. Tool used were Wisconsin quality of life client questionnaire, structured interview schedule on knowledge and 5-point Likert scale on attitude. The study was conducted in leprosy colony and urban slum. Total of 200 samples were selected 100 from leprosy colony and 100 from the urban slum through convenient sampling technique.

Results: The results showed that the adults residing in leprosy colony have a better quality of life than the adults residing in the urban slum. Adults in leprosy colony were having average knowledge whereas in urban slum were having poor knowledge. In leprosy colony there is favorable attitude whereas in urban slum were having neutral attitude. A significant weak negative correlation between quality of life and knowledge in leprosy colony and a strong negative correlation between quality of life and attitude in urban slum.

Conclusions: To achieve the eradication of the disease it is necessary to provide regular health awareness programs in the local community and slums as inadequate knowledge and unfavorable attitude towards the disease condition give rise to its incidence.

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