ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2022
Prolonged delays in leprosy case detection in a leprosy hot spot setting in Eastern Ethiopia.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
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14 citing papers in PubMed, 35 citations in OpenAlex.
- Factors associated with disability among patients with leprosy: a scoping review.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Article
- Transmission Patterns and Factors Influencing High Incidence of Leprosy among Indigenous Penan in Sarawak, Malaysia.Journal of community health · 2026Article
- Acceptability and challenges of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) of leprosy patients with grade-2 disability in Bangladesh.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Optimizing a Conventional Multiplex PCR for Simultaneous Detection of Granulomatous Skin Infection Agents:Journal of tropical medicine · 2026Article
- Leprosy perceptions and health seeking behaviour in Miandrivazo district, Madagascar.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
- Associated Factors of Mycobacterium Leprae Infection among People with Leprosy in Kwale County.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
- The Epidemiological Impact of Community-Based Skin Camps on Leprosy Control in East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia: a Modelling Study.Journal of epidemiology and global health · 2025Article
- Frequency and Factors Associated with Disabilities among Leprosy Patients Admitted to the Kindia Disability Prevention and Physical Rehabilitation Centre (Pirp) in Guinea from 2017 to 2021.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2024Article
- Case detection delay in leprosy: Testing tool reliability and measurement consistency in Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Tanzania.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2024Article
- Article
- Trend in the epidemiological risk of leprosy in the state of Goiás-Brazil between 2010 and 2021.Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil · 2024Article
- Prevalence and risk factors for disability in leprosy patients in Indonesia during the post-elimination era.Dermatology reports · 2023Article
- A modelling analysis of a new multi-stage pathway for classifying achievement of public health milestones for leprosy.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2023Article
- Measuring leprosy case detection delay and associated factors in Indonesia: a community-based study.BMC infectious diseases · 2023Article
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12 authors at 7 institutions in 3 countries.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLeprosy or Hansen's disease is known to cause disability and disfigurement. A delay in case detection of leprosy patients can lead to severe outcomes. In Ethiopia, the disability rates caused by leprosy among new cases are relatively high compared to other endemic countries. This suggests the existence of hidden leprosy cases in the community and a delay in timely detection. To reduce disability rates, it is crucial to identify the factors associated with this delay. This study aimed to determine the extent of delay in case detection among leprosy cases in Eastern Ethiopia.
methodsThis cross-sectional explorative study was conducted in January and February 2019 among 100 leprosy patients diagnosed ≤6 months prior to inclusion. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, including the initial onset of symptoms, and the reasons for delayed diagnosis. Descriptive statistics, including percentages and medians, were used to describe the case detection delay. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to evaluate the predictors of delay in case detection of >12 months.
findingsThe median age of patients was 35 years, with a range of 7 to 72 years. The majority were male (80%) and rural residents (90%). The median delay in case detection was 12 months (interquartile range 10-36 months) among the included patients. The mean delay in case detection was 22 months, with a maximum delay of 96 months. The overall prevalence of disability among the study population was 42% (12% grade I and 30% grade II). Fear of stigma (p = 0.018) and experiencing painless symptoms (p = 0.018) were highly associated with a delay in case detection of >12 months.
conclusionsBeing afraid of stigma and having painless symptoms, which are often misinterpreted as non-alarming at the onset of the disease, were associated with a delay in case detection. This study showed the need to increase knowledge on early symptoms of leprosy among affected communities. Furthermore, it is important to support initiatives that reduce leprosy related stigma and promote health worker training in leprosy control activities.
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