Investigation of community knowledge, attitudes and stigma towards leprosy in Nigeria: a mixed-methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Little is known about community knowledge and stigma towards leprosy in endemic settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate community knowledge, attitudes and stigma towards leprosy in Nigeria.

Methods

This was a mixed-methods study consisting of a quantitative cross-sectional survey of community members and qualitative focus group discussions with community members and people affected by leprosy as well as key informant interviews with healthcare workers and community leaders.

Results

Of the 811 survey participants, 401 (49.4%) had a poor knowledge of leprosy that was driven by cultural beliefs, fear of its contagiousness and poor knowledge of its means of transmission. The participants reported high stigma levels with a mean score of 18.96±7.73 on the

SUBMITTER: Murphy-Okpala N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11443338 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature