Stigma and Psychological Problems Encountered By People with Leprosy and How Counselling Helps: A Systematic Review

Leprosy is a medico-social problem with a declining in its medical form due to the presence of effective treatment (MDT) but its social aspect in term of stigmatization, disability, deformities, loss of self-respect and loss of self-esteem and ostracizing of affected ones and misconception of the disease by the community have been well identified as a major threat , therefore , making patients more vulnerable to destitution and social isolation .An important challenge in the post-elimination era of the World Health Organization’s Leprosy Elimination Programme is the social integration of leprosy patients into the community since they often suffer rejection due to the stigma attached to leprosy. Leprosy is one of the oldest diseases known to mankind. However, it still continues to be a serious public health problem in the developing world. This is primarily because leprosy is a medical problem with grave social overtones since permanent and progressive disability and consequent psychological damage is a recognized sequel of untreated leprosy. Hence, leprosy, irrespective of the occurrence of deformities, often results in intense stigma and social discrimination of patients and their families  and the community at large. Social stigma has a significant role in inducement of psychological disorders in patients with Leprosy. Today, the highest burden of leprosy is concentrated mainly in India, Brazil, Myanmar, Madagascar, Nepal and Mozambique. These countries account for about 83 % of the prevalence worldwide. The study was carried out to determine the Stigma of leprosy disease and perceived psychological impact of the disease in the society. It was concluded that health education and information should be paramount when caring for the patient with leprosy because of the psychological disorders.