The reliability of self-administration of dapsone by leprosy patients in Burma

Abstract

A study of urinary dapsone/creatinine (D/C) concentration ratios has been performed on 852 leprosy patients in the Rangoon and Mandalay regions of Burma. The results show that, by comparison with in-patients who are assumed to be compliant with their therapy, hospital out-patients and urban and rural clinic patients had overall compliance rates of only 74% and 24% respectively. In each group, substantial numbers of patients were identified who had taken no dapsone (DDS) tablets whatsoever. The findings are in line with similar studies performed in other countries and they indicate an urgent need to reassess the existing programme of treatment supervision particularly in the urban and rural clinic environments.