Measurement of Quality of Life and Social Participation of Persons Affected by Leprosy in the  Rehabilitation-in-the-Community Programme in Thailand

Kowit Kampirapap; Siramas Rodchan; Songkran Poopook; Jintana Vorsayan; Pratoom Sonsopthong

Authors

Kowit Kampirapap INSTITUTE OF DERMATOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL SERVICES, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH, BANGKOK, THAILAND
Siramas Rodchan RAJPRACHA SAMASAI INSTITUTE, DEPARTMENT OF DISEASE CONTROL, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH, NONTHABURI, THAILAND
Songkran Poopook RAJPRACHA SAMASAI INSTITUTE, DEPARTMENT OF DISEASE CONTROL, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH, NONTHABURI, THAILAND
Jintana Vorsayan RAJPRACHA SAMASAI INSTITUTE, DEPARTMENT OF DISEASE CONTROL, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH, NONTHABURI, THAILAND
Pratoom Sonsopthong RAJPRACHA SAMASAI INSTITUTE, DEPARTMENT OF DISEASE CONTROL, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH, NONTHABURI, THAILAND

Keywords:

Leprosy, Quality of Life, Socio-economic rehabilitation

Abstract

The objectives of this study was to measure the quality of life and social participation of ex-leprosy patients (persons affected by leprosy, PAL) who receive socio-economic rehabilitation (SER) in general community in Thailand. A combination of a cross-sectional descriptive study and a qualitative study was performed. The first batch of 120 PAL with severe disability who were approved to receive the new SER-in-the-community programme, were purposively selected and interviewed with the Leprosy Disability and Socio-economic Scale, WHOQOL-BREF-THAI and the Participation Scale. Data were analyzed using unpaired t-test, one way ANOVA and stepwise multiple regression. Qualitative interviews of 12 PAL and 40 key informants were also conducted. The results showed that 94 PAL were interviewed between May-August 2009. Fifty-six percent of PAL had moderate quality of life. Factors predicting quality of life were migration, absence of limitations in social participation and accessibility to health care, and disabilities (R² = 0.401). About a quarter of PAL (25.5%) had severe participation restriction, 24.5% moderate restriction, and 22.3% mild restriction. Predictive factors in limitation of social participation were illiteracy, unemployment and disability (R² = 0.223).

In conclusion, we propose that SER in-the-community programme for PAL improved self-esteem, financial contribution, and more out-going of PAL. SER in-the-community programme should be integrated into the social welfare programme for people with disability in order to increase the coverage for all PAL and eliminate the discrimination against leprosy.

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