The psychosocial needs of leprosy patients.

In the world of today one finds that between 1 1 and 1 2 million people have suffered from leprosy. l Much research has been conducted on the medical aspects of leprosy, but there is a need in various parts of the world for specialized studies of the psychosocial aspects of leprosy? This need relates to the fact that comparatively little research on the psychosocial needs of leprosy patients has been done. In South Africa, a total of 1 0,8 1 2 patients were registered in 1 984. l It cannot be assumed that patients in South Africa will manifest the same psychosocial needs as leprosy patients in other parts of the world. Judged by research done mainly in other parts of the world, it can be inferred that the psychosocial needs of leprosy patients are dissimilar. Their needs appear to be three-fold: the need for self, societal and community acceptance. Self-stigmatization after diagnosis is not only true of leprosy sufferers,3 and is often of a permanent nature.4 Some leprosy sufferers never accept the disease.5 A specific need of self-acceptance is required in a sufferer. Many patients are rejected by their families on account of the latter' s fear of leprosy. They may even request the patient to leave home.6 According to Van Parij s,7 one-third of leprosy patients suffer desertion by marriage partners. When a divorce follows after a diagnosis of leprosy, the emotional consequence are even more devastating. Often, leprosy sufferers are treated very unsympathetically. 8 Leprosy has become symbolic of highly stigmatized and feared circum­ stances. The rejection of leprosy patients is illustrated by the fact that many lose their work. At the root of the act of rejection lies an employer ' s fear that the leprosy sufferer may transmit