title: Social participation of people affected by leprosy after discontinuation of multidrug therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate social participation of individuals completing treatment for leprosy and to describe the relationship with physical sequelae and sociodemographic characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed involving all leprosy affected people who were treated between 1998 and 2006 in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. General and clinical data were collected and the subjects were assessed using the degree of physical disability of the WHO (DPD-WHO), the Eye-hand-foot (EHF) score, and the participation scale (PS), which measures social participation of individuals with stigmatising problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 335 people treated in the period, 223 (66.6%) were interviewed. Of these, 51.6% were women, the mean age was 54 years (+/- 15.7 years), 66.4% had up to 6 years of formal education, 42.6% worked and 26.9% were retired. There was a predominance of dimorphous (borderline) leprosy (39.9%). Participants' physical and mental health was considered good in the month preceding the interview in 50.2% and 59.2%, respectively. Disabilities according to the DPD-WHO and EHF scores affected 32% of the participants and restrictions in social participation occurred in 35.4%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant association between restrictions in social participation and family income of less than three minimum salaries (US$ 160.50), associated diseases, hospitalisation within the previous year and physical disability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of restrictions in social participation is high, even after completing treatment for leprosy. Physical disability, associated diseases, recent hospitalisation and low family incomes influence the social participation of these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima, PO Box 62, Bauru - SP, 17010 Brazil. snardi@ial.sp.gov.br
authors.forename: Susilene Maria Tonelli
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.forename: Vânia Del'Arco
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Paschoal
authors.forename: Dirce Maria Trevisan
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zanetta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice; D012307:Risk Factors; D058992:Social Participation
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents