Satisfaction of leprosy patients on integrated MDT services: as evaluated by Bargarh Integrated Community Health Project (BICHP).

ABSTRACT

Functional integration can be viewed successful if general health system (GHS) delivers services to the satisfaction of leprosy patients. The study elicits responses from 307 leprosy cured persons of 3 blocks and one town covering a population of about 3,50,000 in district Bargarh, Orissa. 229 (74.6%) MB and 78 (25.4%) cured PB cases were the respondents. About 80% patients diagnosed and received treatment within half an hour, 89.9% respondents spent adequate time with providers for clarifying different aspects of leprosy, 85.0% felt the discussion very useful. About 94% had comfortable time at the health institutions. About 97% of persons were regular and completed FDT in time while 25.0% experienced some discrimination mostly at the health institutions. Trunk nerves were involved in 57% cases at detection which subsided during treatment in 33% of cases. Skin patches disappeared in 74.6% and became inactive in the rest. Majority (90.2%) were convinced about cure by MDT. Clients' satisfaction in terms of quality treatment and cordial patient provider relation in GHS should be a strong indicator for successful integration.