Leprosy Disability Reporting in Ethiopia
Author Information
Author(s): Tegene Bereket Abebayehu, Atnafu Thomas Asfaw
Primary Institution: All Africa Leprosy TB and Rehabilitation Training Centre (ALERT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Hypothesis
This study aims to show the significance of reporting leprosy-related disability at the end of multi-drug therapy and critique how disability is counted in the context of WHO data.
Conclusion
Leprosy-related Grade 2 Disability among newly diagnosed patients is not declining worldwide and is even increasing in endemic regions like Ethiopia.
Supporting Evidence
- The trend of Grade 2 Disability (G2D) among newly diagnosed leprosy patients shows no decline globally for the past 20 years.
- At ALERT Hospital, the prevalence of G2D was 33% at diagnosis and 23% at completion of treatment.
- Interviews revealed gaps in the completeness and quality of disability data reported to WHO.
Takeaway
Leprosy can cause serious disabilities, and many people still suffer from them even after treatment. We need to do a better job of tracking and helping these patients.
Methodology
This is a mixed method study with a 5-year retrospective analysis of newly diagnosed leprosy patients at ALERT Hospital in Ethiopia, including quantitative data from patient records and qualitative data from interviews with health workers.
Potential Biases
There may be biases in data collection due to varying levels of training and understanding among health workers regarding disability assessment.
Limitations
The study only includes data from a tertiary hospital, which may not represent the broader population of leprosy patients in Ethiopia.
Participant Demographics
Of the 309 patients who completed treatment, 202 were male and 107 were female, with a median age of 30 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.008
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.02–8.32
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website