The involvement of the general health service staff in the management of leprosy in the Southern Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract: A qualitative study to examine the involvement of the General Health Service (GHS) staff in the management of leprosy patients was done between January and March 1997 in the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). The aim of the present study was to get qualitative information on the status of the leprosy control program, the possibility of managing leprosy in the GHS, their willingness and future vision. The study used an in-depth interview with key informants and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with leprosy field workers and GHS staff as an instrument. The result showed that information related to the program is lacking at the woreda and zonal health department levels. The involvement of GHS staff in the leprosy control program was limited to suspecting and referring leprosy cases. The increased availability of the service to patients and better relationships among vertical program and GHS staffs were raised as major advantages of involving the GHS in leprosy work. Decreased attention given to prevention of disability, the occurrence of stigma and the threat to leprosy technical staff of losing incentives, were some of the disadvantages raised, if the program is integrated into the GHS. In general, there was a positive attitude from all participants of the discussion towards integrating leprosy into the GHS. Therefore, all stakeholders should give due attention to promoting the involvement of the GHS staff by gradually integrating the program into the GHS system. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1999;13(3):187-193]