title: Illness and service utilization behaviours of leprosy patients.
abstract: 225 adult leprosy patients attending the CLTRI, were interviewed to study their illness and medical agency utilization behaviours. Almost all patients perceived their disease as leprosy but 71.50% did not know how they got it. 10-11% did not reveal the disease to their family for fear of rejection. The time-lag between first suspicion and medical consultation was 1 year or more in 48% of cases. For treatment of leprosy, 36-38% of patients consulted Private Practitioners and General Hospitals, at one or the other time. 42.6% of patients changed 3 or more medical agencies for treatment. On an average patient had taken 62.39% of expected treatment. 41% of patients were not aware of the name of drug (DDS) they were taking. 44% of patients had tried home remedies. Most of the patients preferred to take treatment at leprosy referral hospitals.
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D003622:Dapsone