Leprosy is one of the major public health problems in India. From time immemorial the disease has been causing devastations-physically, mentally and socially. Consequent to the deformity it produces the diseases is being dreaded by the mases. Stigmatisation of the disease and the patients has become deep rooted in the community, mainly due to the disfiguration consequent to deformities. India has approximately 1/3 of the total world leprosy problem. The disease is endemic in several states of India more particularly in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal etc.
This book entitled "Leprosy in Rural India" written by the author, examines the leprosy problem and the control strategies in a time dimension. Apart from identifying various issues in implementation and the weaknesses in the programme, it reviews it the current strategies with a view to developing a scientifically sound, technically feasible and the epidemiologically effective alternative. The book also highlights the need for undertaking detailed epidemiological studies to identify the immunological deficit, the incubation period, portals of the entry and exit of the bacilli and patient behaviour including bio-immunoassay of the response to the treatment. The book contains latest Leprosy Eradication data upto the middle of 1991.
This book is expected to be use for those interested in tackling the problems of leprosy; to researchers interested in further probing into the depths of the problems; to social scientists to understand and further analyse the social scientists to understand and further analyse the social scenario and stigmatisation towards the disease; and the students of community health, both medical and para-medical, for understanding the implementation of a public health programme using the model of leprosy control. |
