Quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study

Esmai-Onyima, Amaka and Ekeke, Ngozi and Ezenwosu, Ifeyinwa and Ossai, Edmund N. and Eze, Chinwe and Chinawa, Francis Chukwuemeka and Iteke, Obiora and Henry, Precious and Nwafor, Charles and Murphy-Okpala, Ngozi and Anthony, O. Meka and Anyaike, Chukwuma and Chukwu, Joseph N (2025) Quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 25 (2315). pp. 1-10.

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Abstract

Introduction Skin Neglected tropical diseases including leprosy and Buruli ulcer cause aesthetic and functional impairments due to late detection of the diseases. This study assessed the quality of life and stigma among persons affected by leprosy or Buruli ulcer in Nigeria. Methods This was a community-based cross-sectional study. It involved 635 persons affected by leprosy or Buruli ulcers who were purposively selected from the endemic local government areas in six Southern States of Nigeria. The SARI Stigma Scale was used to assess stigma while the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to determine the Quality of life. Chi-square test, Correlation analysis, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis tests and multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression analysis were used in the study. The level of statistical significance was determined by a p-value of <0.05. Results The mean age of the respondents was 43.8±17.0years. A higher proportion of the respondents, 78.9% were affected by leprosy. Less than one-third of the respondents, 29.3% had good quality of life. The mean overall stigma score was significantly higher for leprosy patients when compared with BU, (p=0.042). There was a strong negative correlation between overall stigma and overall quality of life, (n=635, r=-0.530, p<0.001). There was a strong positive correlation between overall social support and overall quality of life, (n=635, r=0.558, p<0.001). Predictors of good quality of life included having no formal education, (AOR=0.4, 95%CI: 0.2–0.7), being unemployed, (AOR=0.4, 95%CI: 0.2–0.7), having vocational training, (AOR=2.1, 95%CI: 1.1–4.1), being affected by leprosy, (AOR=4.3, 95%CI: 2.3–8.1) and having poor social support, (AOR=0.1, 95%CI: 0.05–0.2). Conclusion The quality of life of the individuals decreases as the level of stigma increases. Thus, the need to continue community health education campaigns to change the existing stereotypes about the diseases and provide strong social support for the affected individuals.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts > Faculty of Law > Faculty of Management and Social Sciences > Faculty of Education > Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences
Depositing User:	Uchenna Eneogwe
Date Deposited:	18 Aug 2025 21:00
Last Modified:	18 Aug 2025 21:00
URI:	http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5060

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