<p>Knowledge of and Attitude Toward Leprosy in a Leprosy Endemic District, Eastern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Study</p>

Abstract

Introduction: Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a potentially disabling disease that results in discrimination and self-stigma. A delay in case detection among leprosy patients is one of the factors resulting in disability. Although poor insights of the community toward leprosy lead to delays in case detection, studies on such matters are neglected in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the level of community knowledge and attitudes toward leprosy in Fedis District, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 728 randomly selected households from July to August 2019. Each participant was interviewed using a pretested structured questionnaire consisting of participants' socio-demographic background, questions related to knowledge of and attitudes toward leprosy. The collected data were entered using EpiData 3.1 and analyzed using STATA version 13. Chi-squared test, binary, and multivariable logistic regressions were applied as appropriate to assess the association between outcome and independent variables. Results: Among 728 study participants, 608 (83.52%) of them had heard about leprosy. Among the study participants who had heard of leprosy, 346 (56.91%) of them had high knowledge of leprosy. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that study participants who completed grade-1-8 (AOR=1.68, 95% CI=1.09-2.58, P=0.017) and government employees (AOR=7.56, 95% CI=2.23-25.63, P=0.001) were significantly associated with high level of knowledge of leprosy. Out of 608 study participants who had heard of leprosy, only 248 (40.79%) had a favorable attitude toward leprosy. Study participants who completed grade 1-8 (AOR= 2.72, 95% CI=1.76-4.19, P= 0.000) and urban inhabitants (AOR=0.49, 95% CI=0.31-0.75, P= 0.032) were significantly associated with favorable attitude toward leprosy. Having high knowledge of leprosy was significantly associated with favorable attitudes toward leprosy. Conclusion: This study revealed unfavorable attitudes toward leprosy among the community. Having a high overall knowledge level on leprosy has been shown to support a favorable attitude toward leprosy.

Evidence for hidden leprosy in a high leprosy-endemic setting, Eastern Ethiopia: The application of active case-finding and contact screening

“…It also reflects inadequate monitoring in the national leprosy control program [ 13 ] and the ongoing transmission of leprosy has not been interrupted [ 26 ]. Unfavorable attitude toward leprosy among the community in the same study setting [ 32 ] contributes to late presentation [ 33 ].…”

“…Hence, a higher prevalence of leprosy is expected in this district. Also, the unfavorable attitude in the general community in Fedis District and the stigma favors the hiding of patients from the diagnosis, irrespective of their sex and contact history [ 32 , 42 ].…”

Risk Factors for Leprosy at Baingkete Makbon District Sorong Regency

“…The results of this study were supported by (Masrizal et al 2020) who said that knowledge has a risk of 9.0 for the incidence of leprosy in Padang Pariaman. It is supported by (Urgesa et al 2020) that knowledge has a significant relationship with the incidence of leprosy, with an OR of 1.68. The researcher's assumption is that the incidence of leprosy in the community can occur due to a lack of knowledge.…”

Knowledge, attitude, and health seeking behavior on leprosy among urban adults in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu

“…[ 10 ] A study done in Eastern Ethiopia found that 56.91% had high knowledge of leprosy. [ 11 ] A study conducted by Mohite RV et al . in a rural community in Karad reported that nearly 79% of respondents had good knowledge and 69% had a positive attitude towards leprosy.…”