Quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study
Abstract Introduction Skin Neglected tropical diseases including leprosy and Buruli ulcer cause aesthetic and functional impairments due to late detection of the diseases. This study assessed the quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or Buruli ulcer in Nigeria. Methods This wa...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Amaka Esmai-Onyima Ngozi Ekeke Ifeyinwa Ezenwosu Edmund N. Ossai Chinwe Eze Francis Chinawa Obiora Iteke Precious Henry Charles Nwafor Ngozi Murphy-Okpala Martin Njoku Anthony O. Meka Chukwuma Anyaike Joseph N. Chukwu |
| author_facet | Amaka Esmai-Onyima Ngozi Ekeke Ifeyinwa Ezenwosu Edmund N. Ossai Chinwe Eze Francis Chinawa Obiora Iteke Precious Henry Charles Nwafor Ngozi Murphy-Okpala Martin Njoku Anthony O. Meka Chukwuma Anyaike Joseph N. Chukwu |
| author_sort | Amaka Esmai-Onyima |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Skin Neglected tropical diseases including leprosy and Buruli ulcer cause aesthetic and functional impairments due to late detection of the diseases. This study assessed the quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or Buruli ulcer in Nigeria. Methods This was a community-based cross-sectional study. It involved 635 persons affected by leprosy or Buruli ulcers who were purposively selected from the endemic local government areas in six Southern States of Nigeria. The SARI Stigma Scale was used to assess stigma while the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to determine the Quality of life. Chi-square test, Correlation analysis, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis tests and multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression analysis were used in the study. The level of statistical significance was determined by a p-value of < 0.05. Results The mean age of the respondents was 43.8 ± 17.0years. A higher proportion of the respondents, 78.9% were affected by leprosy. Less than one-third of the respondents, 29.3% had good quality of life. The mean overall stigma score was significantly higher for leprosy patients when compared with BU, (p = 0.042). There was a strong negative correlation between overall stigma and overall quality of life, (n = 635, r=-0.530, p < 0.001). There was a strong positive correlation between overall social support and overall quality of life, (n = 635, r = 0.558, p < 0.001). Predictors of good quality of life included having no formal education, (AOR = 0.4, 95%CI: 0.2–0.7), being unemployed, (AOR = 0.4, 95%CI: 0.2–0.7), having vocational training, (AOR = 2.1, 95%CI: 1.1–4.1), being affected by leprosy, (AOR = 4.3, 95%CI: 2.3–8.1) and having poor social support, (AOR = 0.1, 95%CI: 0.05–0.2). Conclusion The quality of life of the individuals decreases as the level of stigma increases. Thus, the need to continue community health education campaigns to change the existing stereotypes about the diseases and provide strong social support for the affected individuals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c7a795171e8a41c3b36bfd0175695fe1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c7a795171e8a41c3b36bfd0175695fe12025-08-20T04:01:42ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-23536-zQuality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional studyAmaka Esmai-Onyima0Ngozi Ekeke1Ifeyinwa Ezenwosu2Edmund N. Ossai3Chinwe Eze4Francis Chinawa5Obiora Iteke6Precious Henry7Charles Nwafor8Ngozi Murphy-Okpala9Martin Njoku10Anthony O. Meka11Chukwuma Anyaike12Joseph N. Chukwu13Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control UnitRed Aid Nigeria (RAN) EnuguDepartment of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku-OzallaDepartment of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State UniversityRed Aid Nigeria (RAN) EnuguFederal Neuro-Psychiatric HospitalFederal Neuro-Psychiatric HospitalRed Aid Nigeria (RAN) EnuguRed Aid Nigeria (RAN) EnuguRed Aid Nigeria (RAN) EnuguRed Aid Nigeria (RAN) EnuguRed Aid Nigeria (RAN) EnuguNational Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP)German Leprosy and TB Relief Association EnuguAbstract Introduction Skin Neglected tropical diseases including leprosy and Buruli ulcer cause aesthetic and functional impairments due to late detection of the diseases. This study assessed the quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or Buruli ulcer in Nigeria. Methods This was a community-based cross-sectional study. It involved 635 persons affected by leprosy or Buruli ulcers who were purposively selected from the endemic local government areas in six Southern States of Nigeria. The SARI Stigma Scale was used to assess stigma while the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to determine the Quality of life. Chi-square test, Correlation analysis, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis tests and multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression analysis were used in the study. The level of statistical significance was determined by a p-value of < 0.05. Results The mean age of the respondents was 43.8 ± 17.0years. A higher proportion of the respondents, 78.9% were affected by leprosy. Less than one-third of the respondents, 29.3% had good quality of life. The mean overall stigma score was significantly higher for leprosy patients when compared with BU, (p = 0.042). There was a strong negative correlation between overall stigma and overall quality of life, (n = 635, r=-0.530, p < 0.001). There was a strong positive correlation between overall social support and overall quality of life, (n = 635, r = 0.558, p < 0.001). Predictors of good quality of life included having no formal education, (AOR = 0.4, 95%CI: 0.2–0.7), being unemployed, (AOR = 0.4, 95%CI: 0.2–0.7), having vocational training, (AOR = 2.1, 95%CI: 1.1–4.1), being affected by leprosy, (AOR = 4.3, 95%CI: 2.3–8.1) and having poor social support, (AOR = 0.1, 95%CI: 0.05–0.2). Conclusion The quality of life of the individuals decreases as the level of stigma increases. Thus, the need to continue community health education campaigns to change the existing stereotypes about the diseases and provide strong social support for the affected individuals.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23536-zQuality of lifeStigmaLeprosy or buruli ulcerNigeria |
| spellingShingle | Amaka Esmai-Onyima Ngozi Ekeke Ifeyinwa Ezenwosu Edmund N. Ossai Chinwe Eze Francis Chinawa Obiora Iteke Precious Henry Charles Nwafor Ngozi Murphy-Okpala Martin Njoku Anthony O. Meka Chukwuma Anyaike Joseph N. Chukwu Quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study BMC Public Health Quality of life Stigma Leprosy or buruli ulcer Nigeria |
| title | Quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in nigeria a community based cross sectional study |
| topic | Quality of life Stigma Leprosy or buruli ulcer Nigeria |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23536-z |
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