A STUDY ON THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND QUALITY OF LIFE ABOUT LEPROSY DISEASE AMONG ADULT URBAN & RURAL POPULATION OF EITHER GENDER

Swati Rastogi and Dr. Srabani Bhattacharya*

ABSTRACT

It is a cross sectional study. Total number of adult participants were 255 of both male and female gender. 61.17% were male participants and 38.82% were female. Among them, 2.35% 10th standard pass, 16.86% 12th standard pass, graduate 27.45%, post graduate 15.68%, under graduate and other were 34.90% and 2.74% respectively. Among them 90.58% were from urban area. Regarding their occupation, 35.29% were medical students, 13.72% students from other branches, 22.74% office job, 17.64% field job, business 2.35%, 6.27% were house wife & retired 1.96%. Among the respondents only 1% were a leprosy patient or in close contact with a leprosy patient. Among them 47.84% were aware about what leprosy is also called. About the cause of leprosy, 67.05% answered bacteria. About symptoms, 169 participants answered sores or lesions. 72.16 % of them were also aware about the free of cost leprosy treatment available in India.

Keywords: Leprosy, Knowledge, Attitude.