Study of socio demographic factors among persons affected by leprosy in Kurnool division of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Background: Leprosy is an age old disease. Leprosy is an important cause of preventable disability. Physical impairment associated with leprosy is usually secondary to nerve damage. The aim of the present study was to study the socio demographic factors among persons affected by leprosy and to determine the association between socio demographic factors and WHO grade of disability. Methods: This is a community based cross–sectional study conducted in administrative limits of Kurnool division of Kurnool district from November 2013-May 2014. Information collected was socio demographic variables like age, sex, religion, educational status, marital status, income, socioeconomic status, type and size of family. Results: 65/276 (23.56%) of the study subjects had disabilities. Out of which 9.06% had only Grade 1 and 14.50% had Grade 2 disability. 10.14% of study subjects had sensory impairment in hands, 5.79% had sensory impairment in feet and 2.90% had sensory impairment in both hands and feet. Grade 1 & Grade 2 disability was more common in >60 years of age (32.26%), males (16.67%), unskilled workers (23.63%), Illiterates (21.56%) and lower socio economic status (20.37%). Conclusions: Disability among persons affected by leprosy was more common in geriatric age compared to other age groups. As age increases the number of deformed cases also increased. Deformities were more among male patients, multi bacillary cases, doing unskilled occupations that have more chance of getting injuries and illiterates and poor socio economic group patients. Sensory Impairment was more common in hands compared to feet.