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publication name A Forgotten Aspect of Leprosy, Community Knowledge and Attitude Toward The Disease in Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt
Authors Aliaa E M Daifalla,Fatma M Elesawy,Shorouk F Abd-Elmaksoud,Hanaa E Bayoumy, Karem T Khalil
year 2023
keywords Leprosy;community;knowledge;attitude;Egypt
journal Benha Medical Journal
volume Not Available
issue Not Available
pages Not Available
publisher Not Available
Local/International Local
Paper Link Not Available
Full paper download
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Abstract

Background: Leprosy is a public health problem and one of the world’s most stigmatized diseases. The WHO has set a target to eliminate leprosy globally by 2030. A major obstacle to achieve this target is the general population’s wrong perceptions and depressing attitudes toward leprosy patients. It may lead to delayed presentation and accentuated disease sequelae as well as continuous spread of the disease until patients start treatment. Objective: To assess population’s approach towards leprosy, people’s knowledge about the disease, their believes, attitude and reaction towards leprosy patients. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study among residents in Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt, aged 20-50, randomly selected from visitors to Dermatology outpatient clinic at Benha University Hospitals, during a 6-month period (from February 2022 till July 2022) using an Arabic selfadministered questionnaire. Results: A total number of 1470 eligible subjects were interviewed and asked to participate in the study. Of them, 1020 (69.38%) stated they had heard about leprosy and were asked further to complete the questionnaire themselves, however 450 people (30.61%) did not have any background on the disease. Participants were 33.3% males and 66.6% females, 45.1% were coming from rural areas, and 63.1% finished their university degree. Conclusion: The study outcomes highlight low level of knowledge and negative community attitude towards leprosy among general population in Egypt. These necessitate the design of health education programs and behavior adjustment encouragement activities to improve consciousness of the community towards leprosy patients as well as improving social adjustment of patients.

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