Giri P A, Phalke D B, Aarif S M M
Department of Community Medicine, Rural Medical College and Pravara, Rural Hospital Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed University), Loni-413 736, Maharashtra, India.
Indian J Lepr. 2011 Apr-Jun;83(2):75-80.
Leprosy is an Infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and acquired through droplet infection. India has been carrying the 2/3rd global leprosy burden. Inadequate or incorrect information and knowledge about the disease and its treatment are the root causes of many stigmas and inhibitions prevalent in the various sections of the community. The present study was undertaken to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding leprosy among undergraduates (final year medical students) and interns of Rural Medical College and Pravara Rural Hospital, Loni, Maharashtra, India. It is heartening to note that most of students and interns had good knowledge about regimens, counselling and were willing to work in leprosy. There were, however, misconceptions about several aspects of diseases which were more in case of final year students compared with interns. Significant improvementin the knowledge of interns in comparison offinal year MBBS students was mostly noted on the aspects like transmission of leprosy, involvement of ulnar nerve in the leprosy, immunological relevance, use of vaccine, treatment of leprosy affected person and leprosy associated stigma. This positive change in attitudes as well as knowledge highlight the requirement of proper training and clinical exposure of medical students and important role of internship. There is need to focus on important aspects (such as cardinal signs, public health aspects and definitions, infectivity, misconception about marriage in which insignificant changes were observed.
麻风病是由麻风分枝杆菌引起的一种传染病，通过飞沫感染传播。印度承担着全球三分之二的麻风病负担。关于该疾病及其治疗的信息和知识不足或不正确，是社区各阶层中许多耻辱感和禁忌存在的根本原因。本研究旨在评估印度马哈拉施特拉邦洛尼市农村医学院和普拉瓦拉农村医院的本科生（医学专业最后一年学生）和实习生对麻风病的知识、态度和实践（KAP）。令人欣慰的是，大多数学生和实习生对治疗方案、咨询有良好的了解，并且愿意从事麻风病相关工作。然而，对于该疾病的几个方面存在误解，与实习生相比，最后一年的学生中此类情况更多。与医学学士最后一年的学生相比，实习生在麻风病传播、尺神经在麻风病中的受累情况、免疫学相关性、疫苗使用、麻风病患者的治疗以及麻风病相关耻辱感等方面的知识有显著提高。态度和知识的这种积极变化凸显了医学生接受适当培训和临床实习的必要性以及实习的重要作用。有必要关注重要方面（如主要体征、公共卫生方面和定义、传染性、对婚姻的误解，在这些方面观察到的变化不显著）。
