Table 2.
Knowledge on epidemiology, clinical features, treatment, and preventive measures of leprosy
| Knowledge on leprosy | Frequency n=640 | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Sources of information about leprosy | ||
| Newspapers/Magazines/Banners/Posters | 144 | 22.5 |
| Radio, TV | 91 | 14.2 |
| Social Media | 38 | 5.9 |
| Doctor/Health worker | 104 | 16.3 |
| Family members/friends/neighbors/teachers | 249 | 39 |
| Others (hospital/public/temple/books) | 14 | 2.1 |
| Seen someone with leprosy | ||
| Yes | 371 | 58 |
| No | 269 | 42 |
| Leprosy is a serious disease | ||
| Yes | 422 | 66 |
| No | 218 | 34 |
| Leprosy is a serious problem in India | ||
| Yes | 369 | 57.7 |
| No | 271 | 42.3 |
| Causes of leprosy | ||
| Germs/bacteria | 304 | 47.5 |
| Poor hygiene | 191 | 29.8 |
| Living in close contact with a leprosy patient | 76 | 11.9 |
| Curse or spell/Punishment from God for sin | 22 | 3.4 |
| Runs in family (Heredity) | 26 | 4.1 |
| Marrying from a family that has leprosy patient | 5 | 0.8 |
| Do’t know | 16 | 2.5 |
| Transmission of leprosy from person to person | ||
| Yes | 456 | 71.2 |
| No | 184 | 28.8 |
| Mode of transmission of leprosy (n=456) | ||
| Through close contact/handshakes | 304 | 66.7 |
| Through the air when a person with Leprosy coughs or sneezes | 88 | 19.3 |
| Through sharing dishes & eating from the same plate | 14 | 3.1 |
| Through touching/using items used by the patients | 50 | 10.9 |
| Signs and symptoms of Leprosy | ||
| Numbness | 64 | 10 |
| Loss of sensation [touch/pain/temperature] | 166 | 26 |
| Skin patches | 281 | 44 |
| Skin ulcers | 59 | 9.2 |
| Nerve thickening | 1 | 0.1 |
| Muscle weakness | 20 | 3.1 |
| Paralysis | 33 | 5.1 |
| Don’t know | 16 | 2.5 |
| Leprosy is a treatable disease | ||
| Yes | 351 | 54.8 |
| No | 289 | 45.2 |
| Preventive measures for leprosy | ||
| Avoid close contacts andnd sharing their belongings | 334 | 52.1 |
| Maintaining personal hygiene | 156 | 24.4 |
| Through good nutrition | 46 | 7.2 |
| By praying | 5 | 0.8 |
| Do not know | 99 | 15.5 |