Knowledge of leprosy among Non Formal Healthcare Providers and their perceptions about the National Leprosy Eradication Programme in India

摘要

This pilot study reports the knowledge of the Non Formal Health Practitioners (NFHPs) about leprosy and their willingness to be involved In the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). These twenty NFHPs belonged to 2 districts of West Bengal, Among the 20, 12 were involved with the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme but none had any exposure to the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). Most of the NFHPs (80%) considered leprosy not infectious, 50% felt that it was hereditary or occurred in families, 25% were aware of patches and anaesthesia being early signs of leprosy, 60% were confident it was curable, but did not know how disability could be prevented. Only 20% knew about IWDT and its being available at Government health Centres free of cost. Participants were willing to be involved in the program me. The potential usefulness of NFHs needs to be evaluated by prospective well designed studies.