A STUDY OF SOCIAL STIGMA BY THE NEIGHBOURS AMONG LEPROSY PATIENTS OF AGRA AND KANPUR DISTRICTS OF U.P.

In the present study social stigma & discrimination was assessed among the leprosy patients by the neighbors using an interview schedule. Objectives: To study the social stigma & discrimination by the neighbors with the leprosypatients. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Setting and Participants :Male leprosy Patients attending the Government OPDs, of S. IV. Medical College. Agra, GS. VM Medial College. Kanpur N.JLL. & OMDs (ICMR), Agra, District Hospitals and2 CHCs & 4 PHCs of the Districts ofAgra and Kanpur. Sample Size :200 registered & confirmed male leprosypatients aged 18-60 years (100 eachfromAgra and Kanpur Districts). Results : It was observed that 43% (86) of the respondents became an.sious after knowing about their disease and 29% became hopeless. It was also seen that 52% (1 04) patients could not sitfreely with their neighbors and 50.5% (101) of the patients were madefun by neighbors once or Iwice. It was seen that 58.5% of the patients do not visit at their neighbors homeS after diagnosis of the disease and when they were asked the reason, 71% (83) were found self stigmatizedfollowed by rude behavior of the neighbors (19%) while 5% of the patients were restricted by the family. It was also observed that most of the patients feel ashamed due to their disease. Conclusion : The patients Jel ashamed and selfistigmatized due to disease it is also concluded that respondents avoid to visit at their neighbour’s home & theirfamilyfunctions due to bad behaviour ofthe neighbours