Analysis of the effect of Individual, Familial and Environmental Factors on Family Stigma of Leprosy in Jombang regency, East Java Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract-Stigma is assigning a sign or label of a negative undesirable characteristic which is not appropriate for the society. In addition, stigma in the family is resulted from the loss of family support in patients with leprosy(leprosy sufferer), by excluding and hiding them until the cessation of the treatment process. This condition will aggravate the process of early detection of patients with leprosy, self-stigma in patients with leprosy, disability and quality of life of patients and family members. The aim of this study is to analyze the patient, family and environmental factors that influence the family stigma on leprosy. This study applied cross-sectional design while the study population was families of leprosy patients at six health centers for endemic leprosy in Jombang East Java and represent 49 families of leprosy patients. These samples included 39 families and sampling was with Multi-Stage Random Sampling. The hypotheses were tested by using Chi-Square with p value<0.05. The results found that there were 29 (74.4%) family stigmas occurred, while hypotheses tests obtained from the individual factors included stigma individual, self-concept and disability level of leprosy patient influence on family stigma (P = 0.000). Family factors include family support, family coping mechanisms, knowledge and family perception towards leprosy affecting the family stigma (P = 0.000), whereas there was no effect of economic status on family stigma (P = 0.07) and environmental factors affects the family stigma only as a social stigma (P = 0.007) and there is no stigma attached by healthcare providers. The conclusion is that the individual, family and environmental factors influence the occurrence of family stigma; therefore, the researchers recommend intervention in an attempt to overcome the family stigma attention on individuals, families and the environment.