Interventions to reduce leprosy related stigma: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Sciences
• Medical Research

Background:

• Stigmatisation significantly impacts individuals affected by leprosy globally.
• Reducing stigma is crucial for early care-seeking and mitigating disease spread.
• There is a need to identify effective stigma-reducing interventions for leprosy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review effective interventions for reducing leprosy-related stigma.
• To explore the available evidence on the cost-effectiveness of these interventions.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted.
• Searches were performed across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases.
• Seventeen publications met the inclusion criteria.

Main Results:

• Interventions were categorized into six types: Information, Education, and Communication (IEC); community-led projects; socioeconomic rehabilitation; mixed interventions; health system integration; and cosmetic/surgical care.
• Multiple interventions demonstrated success in reducing leprosy stigma.
• Only one study provided specific cost-related evidence.

Conclusions:

• Effective leprosy stigma reduction strategies are identified, but comprehensive cost data is lacking.
• Intervention effectiveness is primarily evidenced in Nepal, India, and Indonesia.
• Further research is needed to evaluate interventions in diverse geographical and cultural contexts to ensure global applicability.