Many factors contribute to the challenges leprosy
individuals face after rehabilitation into the society, and these vary across
continents and communities. In each community, there is a complex mix of
reasons why leprosy individuals are exposed to different challenges, feared and
shamed even after they have been cured and rehabilitated into the society. Some
of the reasons are discussed below:
individuals face after rehabilitation into the society, and these vary across
continents and communities. In each community, there is a complex mix of
reasons why leprosy individuals are exposed to different challenges, feared and
shamed even after they have been cured and rehabilitated into the society. Some
of the reasons are discussed below:
Beliefs about the Causation of Leprosy
Beliefs about the causation of leprosy have
differed over time and between places. These beliefs affect how the disease and
those who have it are perceived. Some groups believe that leprosy is a
judgement from God or the gods for wrongdoing either in this or a previous
life. Those with leprosy even after being cured are avoided as they are seen as
sinful, and those around them do not themselves want to incur that wrath.
Likewise, those who have suffered from leprosy may be avoided in places where
leprosy is viewed as a sexually transmitted disease, as something contracted by
victims of witchcraft, or as something that witches themselves have. More
recently, in some areas traditional beliefs about how diseases are caused are
giving way to a fear of infection by germs’. Although there is no one common
perceived cause of leprosy, all the beliefs described above are negative and
usually imply that the sufferer has done wrong and brought the disease upon
himself (Zodpey, Tiwari & Salodkar, 2010)
differed over time and between places. These beliefs affect how the disease and
those who have it are perceived. Some groups believe that leprosy is a
judgement from God or the gods for wrongdoing either in this or a previous
life. Those with leprosy even after being cured are avoided as they are seen as
sinful, and those around them do not themselves want to incur that wrath.
Likewise, those who have suffered from leprosy may be avoided in places where
leprosy is viewed as a sexually transmitted disease, as something contracted by
victims of witchcraft, or as something that witches themselves have. More
recently, in some areas traditional beliefs about how diseases are caused are
giving way to a fear of infection by germs’. Although there is no one common
perceived cause of leprosy, all the beliefs described above are negative and
usually imply that the sufferer has done wrong and brought the disease upon
himself (Zodpey, Tiwari & Salodkar, 2010)
Death Sentence
Another factor feeding in to the folklore of
leprosy is that until the, there was no effective cure for the disease. This
means that contracting leprosy was a death sentence, with disability and
deformity progressing until one finally dies, as result of this, even when
cured, many people in the society still believe that the infections is just
suppressed and may come back again (Stigter, de Gaus & Heynders, 2005).
leprosy is that until the, there was no effective cure for the disease. This
means that contracting leprosy was a death sentence, with disability and
deformity progressing until one finally dies, as result of this, even when
cured, many people in the society still believe that the infections is just
suppressed and may come back again (Stigter, de Gaus & Heynders, 2005).
Fear of Contagion
Behind the ostracism of those with leprosy lies the
fear of infection. The fear of
contracting leprosy was sometimes perpetuated by methods of tackling the
disease. The idea of separating individuals with leprosy from other diseases in
separate programmes and hospitals unfortunately sent out the message that
leprosy is somehow different and more infectious than other diseases. Many
people still hold this belief and want those with leprosy to be separated and
housed away from their communities to avoid others getting the disease and even
after their cure, people find it difficult to accept them (Stigter, de Gaus
& Heynders, 2005).
fear of infection. The fear of
contracting leprosy was sometimes perpetuated by methods of tackling the
disease. The idea of separating individuals with leprosy from other diseases in
separate programmes and hospitals unfortunately sent out the message that
leprosy is somehow different and more infectious than other diseases. Many
people still hold this belief and want those with leprosy to be separated and
housed away from their communities to avoid others getting the disease and even
after their cure, people find it difficult to accept them (Stigter, de Gaus
& Heynders, 2005).
Disability and
Deformity
Deformity
Another reason that poses serious challenges to
leprosy individuals after rehabilitation into the society is the deformity and
disability caused by the disease. In lepromatous leprosy, there is a
characteristic facial appearance that marks out an individual as having the
disease as the skin becomes ridged and thick and the nose wider. This means
that at first glance other people can see they have leprosy (Prabhakara, Rao
& Palande, 2000).
leprosy individuals after rehabilitation into the society is the deformity and
disability caused by the disease. In lepromatous leprosy, there is a
characteristic facial appearance that marks out an individual as having the
disease as the skin becomes ridged and thick and the nose wider. This means
that at first glance other people can see they have leprosy (Prabhakara, Rao
& Palande, 2000).
Odour
Some individuals with leprosy after rehabilitation
may have a distinctive odour caused by infected ulcers. This smell can be
nauseating and is made worse in cases when their communities do not allow them
to wash in communal water as well as making them outcasts and this bad odour
can affect the individual’s sense of worth and dignity (Monsur, 2003).
may have a distinctive odour caused by infected ulcers. This smell can be
nauseating and is made worse in cases when their communities do not allow them
to wash in communal water as well as making them outcasts and this bad odour
can affect the individual’s sense of worth and dignity (Monsur, 2003).
Self-Stigmatization
Self-stigmatization is a very real issue. People
with leprosy after they have been cured and rehabilitated may become ashamed,
possibly because of local attitudes and deformity, and may isolate themselves
from society, thus perpetuating the idea that leprosy is something shameful to
be hidden away. Individuals may find it difficult to value themselves and have
a positive self-image. The self-loathing associated with leprosy can be
permanent; persisting after the disease is cured. It can be hard for some
individuals to accept that they have leprosy. They may never be able to come to
that point, refusing to believe it is true, while others may not believe they
are actually cured after rehabilitation (Onyia, 2000).
with leprosy after they have been cured and rehabilitated may become ashamed,
possibly because of local attitudes and deformity, and may isolate themselves
from society, thus perpetuating the idea that leprosy is something shameful to
be hidden away. Individuals may find it difficult to value themselves and have
a positive self-image. The self-loathing associated with leprosy can be
permanent; persisting after the disease is cured. It can be hard for some
individuals to accept that they have leprosy. They may never be able to come to
that point, refusing to believe it is true, while others may not believe they
are actually cured after rehabilitation (Onyia, 2000).