The Experiences Leprosy Affected Persons at Shashemene Rehabilitation Center for disabled
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2016-10
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Abstract
This study described the experiences of leprosy affected persons at Shashemene Rehabilitation Center for Disabled. The study aimed to address the psychosocial effects of leprosy and institutional supports in improving the lives of leprosy affected persons under institutional support. Qualitative approach, particularly descriptive case study design was used. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select participants. The research participants were leprosy affected persons who are found under institutional support. Additionally, key informants from Shashemene rehabilitation center for disabled and the Association of Leprosy Affected Persons were participated in this study. The tool for primary data collection was in-depth interviews guide. Data were also sought from secondary sources such as document reviews. The data generated from different sources were analyzed using thematic data analysis methods. The study found, leprosy affected persons had encountered several psychosocial problems resulted by leprosy that led them (PALs) to seek institutional support. With this regard, most Persons affected by leprosy families‟, friends‟, and community‟s unwelcoming reactions towards Persons affected by leprosy‟s conditions resulted to restrict them from engaging in any social occasions/gatherings with non-leprosy people and they had less relationships with family, relatives, and friends. The study also found that the disease left immense destructions on the lives of leprosy affected persons in light of behavioral changes they brought with regard to feeling fear, shame, anger, and blame. Even though leprosy affected persons are institutionally supported, they haven‟t brought any considerable improvements in their livelihood in spite of the contribution of the supports rendered by the institution. The institutionally supported leprosy affected persons had negatively associated perceptions towards the supports rendered by the institution. The study concluded that the psychosocial effects of leprosy still unresolved problems and as a result, the support of the institution does not help institutionally supported leprosy affected persons to improve their life. Instead, institutionally supported leprosy affected persons have psychosocial problems yet that hinder them from social participations & social relationships and unchanged behaviors, which resulted due to the disease and the inability of the institution to overcome these issues in providing better psychosocial supports. Rather, institutionally supported leprosy affected persons have used the institution to hide themselves from the outside world. Thus, the rehabilitation center should exert its effort to the maximum point of providing holistic treatments for leprosy affected persons under institutional support
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Leprosy affected persons; Psychosocial; Institutional support; contribution