ACCEPTABILITY OF SELF-CARE PRACTICES AMONG PEOPLE AFFECTED BY LEPROSY IN RUPANDEHI DISTRICTS, NEPAL: AN IMPLEMENTTAION RESEARCH

Pramila Aryal, Prof. Adi Utarini; Dr. Riris Andono Ahmad

2024 | Tesis | S2 Ilmu Kesehatan Masyarakat

Background: Disability due to leprosy negatively impacts emotional, social, and financial burdens on their families which will affect their quality of life. However, it can be prevented through self-care. Self-care involves                              teaching and supporting them how to look after their hands and feet to prevent and manage ulcers. For this self-help groups are formed by the NGOs/INGOs to provide self-care training in order to improve health conditions among leprosy-affected individuals. Effective self-care programs require adequate resources, effective monitoring, clear guidelines, and collaboration among stakeholders and external partners to address the needs of people with leprosy-related disabilities. The government should take the initiative to address these issues which is essential to achieving sustainable disability prevention through self-care.

 

Objectives: To explore the acceptability of self-care practices among people affected by leprosy and stakeholders in the Rupandehi district of Nepal.

 

Methods: This qualitative study based on in-depth interviews, key-informant interview and focus group discussion with the people affected by leprosy and stakeholders in Rupandehi district which is known to be a leprosy endemic district in Nepal. Qualitative data was used to explore acceptability of self-care practices and identify facilitators barriers in accepting self-care practices. A total of 28 respondents were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data to identify themes, explore emerging patterns and analysis    qualitative data based on a TFA framework.

 

Results: Leprosy affected people have accepted the self-care practices and have positive attitude towards it. However, due to poverty, lack of resources and availability of time they feel impossible to practice self-care. To make it worse, less priority was given by the government sector to support self-care practices. Improving perception, minimizing stigma regarding self-care practices as well as improving service providers attitude and support from nongovernmental organization were identified as facilitators.

 

Conclusion: Despite the awareness and acceptance, self-care is not yet practiced. The program implementor should focus on the availability of resources and policy for poverty reduction.

 

Keywords: Leprosy, self-care practices, acceptability, Rupandehi, Nepal

Background: Disability due to leprosy negatively impacts emotional, social, and financial burdens on their families which will affect their quality of life. However, it can be prevented through self-care. Self-care involves                              teaching and supporting them how to look after their hands and feet to prevent and manage ulcers. For this self-help groups are formed by the NGOs/INGOs to provide self-care training in order to improve health conditions among leprosy-affected individuals. Effective self-care programs require adequate resources, effective monitoring, clear guidelines, and collaboration among stakeholders and external partners to address the needs of people with leprosy-related disabilities. The government should take the initiative to address these issues which is essential to achieving sustainable disability prevention through self-care.

 

Objectives: To explore the acceptability of self-care practices among people affected by leprosy and stakeholders in the Rupandehi district of Nepal.

 

Methods: This qualitative study based on in-depth interviews, key-informant interview and focus group discussion with the people affected by leprosy and stakeholders in Rupandehi district which is known to be a leprosy endemic district in Nepal. Qualitative data was used to explore acceptability of self-care practices and identify facilitators barriers in accepting self-care practices. A total of 28 respondents were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data to identify themes, explore emerging patterns and analysis    qualitative data based on a TFA framework.

 

Results: Leprosy affected people have accepted the self-care practices and have positive attitude towards it. However, due to poverty, lack of resources and availability of time they feel impossible to practice self-care. To make it worse, less priority was given by the government sector to support self-care practices. Improving perception, minimizing stigma regarding self-care practices as well as improving service providers attitude and support from nongovernmental organization were identified as facilitators.

 

Conclusion: Despite the awareness and acceptance, self-care is not yet practiced. The program implementor should focus on the availability of resources and policy for poverty reduction.

 

Keywords: Leprosy, self-care practices, acceptability, Rupandehi, Nepal

Kata Kunci : Leprosy, self-care practices, acceptability, Rupandehi, Nepal