Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 8, 2026
DNA Fingerprinting of Mycobacterium leprae Strains Using Variable Number Tandem Repeat VNTR - Fragment Length Analysis FLA
Published on: July 15, 2011
Determinants of Health-Seeking Behaviour for Leprosy Among High-Risk Populations in Gunungkidul District, Indonesia:
Denis Oxy Handika1, Agnes Sri Siswati2, Sidig Hery Sukoco3
1Master of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Objective:
Indonesia ranks third globally in leprosy burden, with 9.2% of new 2023 cases presenting with Grade 2 disabilities (G2D), indicating delayed detection. Gunungkidul District continues to exhibit high G2D rates despite ongoing screening programs. This study examined the determinants of health-seeking behaviour among leprosy contacts, a high-risk population with a 5- to 13-fold higher risk of developing G2D.
Methods:
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted across all 13 sub-districts of Gunungkidul District (February-March 2025). Stratified random sampling enrolled 264 leprosy contacts. Structured interviews assessed knowledge, attitudes, perceived effectiveness of leprosy treatment, family support, healthcare worker support, accessibility to healthcare services and stigma. Data were analyzed using univariate, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results are presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results:
Among the 264 participants (mean age 46.5 years; 63.3% female), most were of productive age (18-59 years, 79.2%) and had completed at least junior high school. Homemakers formed the largest occupational group (42.1%). Only 30.7% of contacts reported appropriate health-seeking behaviour. Multivariate analysis identified three key predictors of health-seeking behaviour: perceptions of leprosy treatment, accessibility to healthcare services and stigma. Favourable perceptions (aOR = 3.60; 95% CI: 1.90-6.80; p < 0.001), good accessibility (aOR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.29-4.37; p = 0.006) and low stigma (aOR = 5.74; 95% CI: 3.03-10.87; p < 0.001) were strongly associated with health-seeking behaviour.
Conclusion:
Addressing social stigma, improving healthcare accessibility and promoting positive perceptions of leprosy treatment are crucial to encouraging health-seeking behaviour. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions to enhance early detection and treatment, particularly among high-risk groups such as leprosy contacts.
More Related Videos
10:57Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
10:32Optimized Protocols for Mycobacterium leprae Strain Management: Frozen Stock Preservation and Maintenance in Athymic Nude Mice
Published on: March 23, 2014
Related Concept Videos
01:28Pulmonary Tuberculosis V
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the...
01:29Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
01:18Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
01:26Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:26Principles of Disease Surveillance