Socio-cultural dimensions of leprosy in North-Western Botswana

Knowledge, Belief and Attitude of the Community towards Leprosy Patients in Gindeberet Woreda, West Shewa Zone

“…Some other studies have also reported avoidance of a leprosy patient because of the fear of being infected or opposed to even casual contact with leprosy patients [33,34]. In addition, similar with the present finding, previous studies found that the attitude of the general public towards individuals with leprosy was negative [10,22,[35][36][37][38] . A study conducted by Nisar from Karachi, Pakistan noticed very poor attitude towards leprosy in fishing community in which 49.8% of respondents dislike to buy foods from leprosy patients and 47.1% of respondents said it was difficult to find work for leprosy patients [19].…”

“…Similar findings have also been reported by Stephen et al [23]. Misconceptions regarding the cause of leprosy are one of the most compelling factors that influence a community's health seeking behaviors and determine their attitudes towards those affected by the disease [10,43,44].…”

Knowledge, Belief and Attitude of the Community towards Leprosy Patients in Gindeberet Woreda, West Shewa Zone

“…Some other studies have also reported avoidance of a leprosy patient because of the fear of being infected or opposed to even casual contact with leprosy patients [33,34]. In addition, similar with the present finding, previous studies found that the attitude of the general public towards individuals with leprosy was negative [10,22,[35][36][37][38] . A study conducted by Nisar from Karachi, Pakistan noticed very poor attitude towards leprosy in fishing community in which 49.8% of respondents dislike to buy foods from leprosy patients and 47.1% of respondents said it was difficult to find work for leprosy patients [19].…”

“…Similar findings have also been reported by Stephen et al [23]. Misconceptions regarding the cause of leprosy are one of the most compelling factors that influence a community's health seeking behaviors and determine their attitudes towards those affected by the disease [10,43,44].…”

Perceptions of HIV and Mental Illness as “Western” or “Traditional” Illnesses: A Cross-Sectional Study from Limpopo Province, South Africa

“…Researchers currently argue that beliefs regarding the supernatural etiology of illness may predominate and persist when a speci c disease is considered "di cult" to treat (Becker et al, 2019;Galvin & Michel, 2020). Other studies in the past have also found that when symptoms are deemed treatable by Western medicine -such as with leprosy -it is more likely to be sought out by local populations (Kumaresan & Maganu, 1994;Steen & Mazonde, 1999). While this may seem like a relatively self-evident observation, it has signi cant implications for disease treatment -both for illnesses like HIV and mental illnessthroughout sub-Saharan Africa.…”

“It’s When the Trees Blossom”: Explanatory Beliefs, Stigma, and Mental Illness in the Context of HIV in Botswana

“…Similar dichotomization of illness has been reported in other African countries (Okello & Neema, 2007). However, when symptoms were deemed treatable, such as for tuberculosis and leprosy, Western medicine might be sought to treat symptoms, in parallel with traditional medicine, to address what was believed to be the underlying cause (e.g., witchcraft; Kumaresan & Maganu, 1994; Steen & Mazonde, 1999). Beliefs in traditional causes of illness have been noted to have decreased over time in Botswana (Steen & Mazonde, 1999); however, our data show these beliefs still predominate to explain mental illness, likely considered a “difficult” Tswana disease.…”

Knowledge, Belief and Attitude of the Community towards Leprosy Patients in Gindeberet Woreda, West Shewa Zone

“…Some other studies have also reported avoidance of a leprosy patient because of the fear of being infected or opposed to even casual contact with leprosy patients [33,34]. In addition, similar with the present finding, previous studies found that the attitude of the general public towards individuals with leprosy was negative [10,22,[35][36][37][38] . A study conducted by Nisar from Karachi, Pakistan noticed very poor attitude towards leprosy in fishing community in which 49.8% of respondents dislike to buy foods from leprosy patients and 47.1% of respondents said it was difficult to find work for leprosy patients [19].…”

“…Similar findings have also been reported by Stephen et al [23]. Misconceptions regarding the cause of leprosy are one of the most compelling factors that influence a community's health seeking behaviors and determine their attitudes towards those affected by the disease [10,43,44].…”

Perceptions of HIV and Mental Illness as “Western” or “Traditional” Illnesses: A Cross-Sectional Study from Limpopo Province, South Africa

“…Researchers currently argue that beliefs regarding the supernatural etiology of illness may predominate and persist when a speci c disease is considered "di cult" to treat (Becker et al, 2019;Galvin & Michel, 2020). Other studies in the past have also found that when symptoms are deemed treatable by Western medicine -such as with leprosy -it is more likely to be sought out by local populations (Kumaresan & Maganu, 1994;Steen & Mazonde, 1999). While this may seem like a relatively self-evident observation, it has signi cant implications for disease treatment -both for illnesses like HIV and mental illnessthroughout sub-Saharan Africa.…”

“It’s When the Trees Blossom”: Explanatory Beliefs, Stigma, and Mental Illness in the Context of HIV in Botswana

“…Similar dichotomization of illness has been reported in other African countries (Okello & Neema, 2007). However, when symptoms were deemed treatable, such as for tuberculosis and leprosy, Western medicine might be sought to treat symptoms, in parallel with traditional medicine, to address what was believed to be the underlying cause (e.g., witchcraft; Kumaresan & Maganu, 1994; Steen & Mazonde, 1999). Beliefs in traditional causes of illness have been noted to have decreased over time in Botswana (Steen & Mazonde, 1999); however, our data show these beliefs still predominate to explain mental illness, likely considered a “difficult” Tswana disease.…”

Knowledge, Belief and Attitude of the Community towards Leprosy Patients in Gindeberet Woreda, West Shewa Zone

“…Some other studies have also reported avoidance of a leprosy patient because of the fear of being infected or opposed to even casual contact with leprosy patients [33,34]. In addition, similar with the present finding, previous studies found that the attitude of the general public towards individuals with leprosy was negative [10,22,[35][36][37][38] . A study conducted by Nisar from Karachi, Pakistan noticed very poor attitude towards leprosy in fishing community in which 49.8% of respondents dislike to buy foods from leprosy patients and 47.1% of respondents said it was difficult to find work for leprosy patients [19].…”

“…Similar findings have also been reported by Stephen et al [23]. Misconceptions regarding the cause of leprosy are one of the most compelling factors that influence a community's health seeking behaviors and determine their attitudes towards those affected by the disease [10,43,44].…”

Perceptions of HIV and Mental Illness as “Western” or “Traditional” Illnesses: A Cross-Sectional Study from Limpopo Province, South Africa

“…Researchers currently argue that beliefs regarding the supernatural etiology of illness may predominate and persist when a speci c disease is considered "di cult" to treat (Becker et al, 2019;Galvin & Michel, 2020). Other studies in the past have also found that when symptoms are deemed treatable by Western medicine -such as with leprosy -it is more likely to be sought out by local populations (Kumaresan & Maganu, 1994;Steen & Mazonde, 1999). While this may seem like a relatively self-evident observation, it has signi cant implications for disease treatment -both for illnesses like HIV and mental illnessthroughout sub-Saharan Africa.…”

“It’s When the Trees Blossom”: Explanatory Beliefs, Stigma, and Mental Illness in the Context of HIV in Botswana

“…Similar dichotomization of illness has been reported in other African countries (Okello & Neema, 2007). However, when symptoms were deemed treatable, such as for tuberculosis and leprosy, Western medicine might be sought to treat symptoms, in parallel with traditional medicine, to address what was believed to be the underlying cause (e.g., witchcraft; Kumaresan & Maganu, 1994; Steen & Mazonde, 1999). Beliefs in traditional causes of illness have been noted to have decreased over time in Botswana (Steen & Mazonde, 1999); however, our data show these beliefs still predominate to explain mental illness, likely considered a “difficult” Tswana disease.…”