Knowledge, Attitude, Practices toward Leprosy among General Population and Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Background: Leprosy is one of the major public health concerns in India, despite achieving elimination
status in 2005. There is a lack of knowledge, prevalence of misconceptions, and stigma toward leprosy
patients not only among the general public but also among Healthcare workers (HCWs), leading to delayed
diagnosis and reduced new case detection. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the awareness,
knowledge, attitude, and stigma toward leprosy among the general public and non-physician HCWs in a
tertiary care teaching hospital in South India. Methodology: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was
conducted among 390 adults attending outpatient clinics and 106 Non-physician HCWs in a tertiary care
center. Data collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed. Results: Among 390 adult respondents
including 201 (51.5%) males and 189 (48.5%) females, only 29.5% identified the microbial etiology while
55.4% were not aware about the etiology. Nearly 57.9% were aware about the mode of transmission of
which 50.4% pointed correctly to droplet transmission. Nearly 30% considered leprosy as contagious, and
22% believed that treatment is expensive. Surprisingly, social acceptance was high and 64.1% were unsure
about marriage with leprosy-affected patients. Among Non-Physician HCWs with a mean age of 28.8 years,
85.8% identified the etiology, and only 49.1% were aware of the etiology. More than half 59.4% believed
that leprosy patients required isolation and avoidance of marriage. Conclusion: The present study highlights
the knowledge gaps, misconceptions, and stigmatizing attitudes among both the general public and Non-
Physician HCWs and recommends further effective community outreach activities to eliminate leprosy-related
discrimination