Effect of comprehensive rehabilitation intervention on the disability of leprosy patients

ObjectiveTo determine the deformity in the cured leprosy patients with comprehensive rehabilitation intervention.

MethodsFive leprosy villages in our province were selected as the observation group and the other four leprosy villages as the control group.There was ≤5 years in the age difference, and no difference in the disability index (average disability of eyes, hands and feet) between the two groups.We investigated the cured leprosy patients by self-designed questionnaire and implemented the comprehensive rehabilitation intervention for two years.Then the sequelae were compared between the observation group and control group.

ResultsThe proportion of disability in the leprosy patients who stayed in hospital was higher.After comprehensive rehabilitation, the prevalence of red eye, hand skin wrinkle, foot skin wrinkle and foot ulcer in the observation group decreased by 61.54%, 71.96%, 60.41% and 52.86% compared with the baseline, respectively.Comparatively, the prevalence of red eye, hand skin rupture, foot skin rupture and foot ulcer in the control group decreased by 37.50%, 58.74%, 45.64% and 21.43%, respectively.There was no significant difference between the two groups in red eye (P>0.05), whereas significant difference in hand and foot skin rupture and foot ulcer (P < 0.05).

ConclusionCured leprosy patients staying in the hospital are likely to have high disability rate and poor quality of life. Comprehensive interventions are recommended to improve their quality of life and reduce the incidence of future disability.