title: Sustainable leprosy related disability care within integrated general health services: findings from Salem District, India.
abstract: The main focus of leprosy control has been case detection and treatment delivery with relative neglect of prevention of disability. Absence of reliable data and lack of research have added to the problem. This raised concerns about the capacity of the general health system to address the needs of people living with leprosy-related disabilities. In this prospective study appropriate services for people living with leprosy-related disabilities were introduced in the form of self-care training, guidance and monitoring by the general health staff facilitated by a non-governmental organisation leprosy centre in a district in south India with a population of 3.1 million (estimated in 2005). The staff identified 1232 people with leprosy-related disabilities and trained them in self-care. Follow-up assessments indicated that 86% were found to be practising self-care regularly and all the 239 general health workers were found to be actively involved. The most heartening outcome was the healing of plantar ulcers in 70% of people at the 1-year follow up. This intervention is sustainable because of the simplicity of the procedures and the involvement of all health staff including supervisors.
authors.affiliation: Lep, Salem District, Tamilnadu, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Madhavan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vijayakumaran
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manickam
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajmohan
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krishnamurthy
mesh_terms: D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007918:Leprosy / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012648:Self Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019037:Urban Health Services