Assistive devices for people affected by leprosy: underutilised facilitators of functioning?
OBJECTIVE
People affected by leprosy and their families face social and economic problems. The focus of interventions is often on prevention of disabilities and socioeconomic rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to explore to what extent the potential of assistive devices to facilitate activities and participation of people affected by leprosy has been utilised.


METHODS
Published literature was reviewed and the findings analysed.


RESULTS
Considerable attention has been given to the protecting role of assistive devices. The focus of assistive devices facilitating functioning has been on mobility aspects of self-care and domestic life.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate that the potential of assistive devices to facilitate activities and participation in life areas such as work and employment is still waiting to be utilised on a broad scale.
Borg
Johan
J
Division of Social Medicine and Global Health, Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Sweden. johan.borg@med.lu.se
Larsson
Stig
S
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors