Leprosy Sufferers' Perception Of Social Stigma As A Determinant Of Their Beggary Lifestyle In Delta State.

Abstract

This study aimed at relating leprosy sufferers perception of social stigma to their lifestyles. Eighty leprosy affected persons comprising males and females drawn from Delta State Government Tuberculosis and Leprosy Referral Center participated in this study. A focus group discussion schedule containing information about knowledge–belief–practices of leprosy and its sufferers was the instrument used to determine the relationship between the participants perception of leprosy social stigma and their lifestyles. The discussions were subjected to the multi-dimensional scaling technique. The results showed that social stigmatization of leprosy patients in their indigenous communities truly determines their beggary lifestyles after treatment. However, in order to facilitate changing lifestyles of target groups, a holistic model was proposed to effectively rehabilitate leprosy patients.


Ife PsychologIA Vol.12(1) 2004: 138-148