Discussion
This study aimed to explore the experiences of people living with and
affected by leprosy in Nigeria. Using data and statistics gotten from
all six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The findings from this study
showed that the majority of participants were familiar with the signs
and symptoms of the disease, while just above a tenth revealed a good
knowledge level about the cause of leprosy. The low knowledge level of
causes might be attributed to lack of awareness programs which can be
somewhat attributed to the effectiveness of leprosy control initiatives
and awareness campaigns. This study showed that most of the participants
did not know how leprosy was being transmitted, and this differs from a
similar study in Eastern Ethiopia where more than half of study
participants who are PLWL knew about leprosy transmission in Eastern
Ethiopia.Poor knowledge of the cause of leprosy, and it’s mode of
transmission among people livng with leprosy pose a publc health
challenge, because these individuals would not be exercising the needed
precautionary measures to prevent disease transmission.
In this study, the majority of respondents believe that leprosy is
treatable. This result tallies with that reported in Southeast Ethiopia
where respondents believe that leprosy can be treated with
pharmaceutical drugs, and is in sharp contrast with another study in
Mexico where a majority of PLWL do not know if leprosy is treatable or
not. According to these findings, two-thirds of participants believed
leprosy to be a source of shame, disdain, and embarrassment. This is
similar to those observed in Thailand and Ethiopia where respondents
would deliberately avoid leprosy patients
Although results from this study mentioned that stigmatization has been
reduced greatly because of the interventions by Nongovernmental
organizations, people living with leprosy still mentioned that there is
still stigmatization against leprosy in Nigeria. This has also been
reported by India in 2019 where people living with leprosy mentioned
that if they had known they would not have sought help concerning their
condition because of shame and stigma from people in their surrounding
environment
Similar to our findings on stigmatization faced by people living with
leprosy, a systematic review done in 2022 (Abdul et al., 2022), revealed
that people living with leprosy are often concerned about their physical
appearance which limit their ability to socialize with other people. The
study also identified the economic burden of the disease on the patients
who have to pay for their transportation to the health centres to access
the free treatment. Further, the physical disabilities associated with
leprosy and its symptoms limit their abilities to work, causing loss of
income and unemployment. This supports the findings of our research,
where a respondent stated that they can’t freely go out to do business
because people are afraid to buy from them.
Although NGOs have been at the forefront of the fight against leprosy in
Nigeria and they have been doing very well, the government needs to take
their front row in the fight. One way this can be done is to separate
National TB and Leprosy Agency into two because the government has given
a lot of attention has been given to Tuberculosis over leprosy over the
years. This has been reported by Ogbeiwi, 2005 who indicated inadequate
reporting due to less attention on leprosy compared to tuberculosis in
recent years by the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme
has shifted the whole burden of care and management of people with
leprosy to ILEP members ILEP is the federation of autonomous
anti-leprosy non-governmental organizations. This will provide more
oversight, centralization of care, improved policy implementation, clear
government funding at national and sub-national levels, and ensure
coordinationThis study recommends the empowerment of Persons affected
with leprosy, increasing the awareness of leprosy, improved intervention
from government and Organizations, and provision of basic amenities by
the government.