Role of leprosy villages and leprosaria in Shandong Province, People's Republic of China: past, present and future.
In the late phase of the leprosy control programme in Shandong Province, People's Republic of China, there are a few old and disabled ex-patients living in 54 leprosy villages/leprosaria. The small, and declining number of patients makes the running of these leprosy villages/leprosaria uneconomic. In this paper, we review the history and the role of leprosy villages/leprosaria in the care of leprosy patients and the control programme in Shandong province. We then analyse the present situation of the 643 people still living in these leprosy villages/leprosaria, using information collected from a questionnaire-based survey. Finally, we offer some suggestions and recommendations for policy makers and leprosy control managers, in order to improve the present situation and make better use of existing resources.
Shumin
Chen
C
Shandong Provincial Institute of Dermatology and Venereology, 57 Jiyan Lu, Jinan, Shandong, PR China 250022. Chenshm@public.jn.sd.cn
Diangchang
Liu
L
Bing
Liu
L
Lin
Zhang
Z
Xioulu
Yu
Y
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007914:Leper Colonies; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012648:Self Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors