Introduction: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites. It is prevalent and affecting the quality of human life in more than 100 countries globally. The impact of CL as a public health problem has often been expressed in epidemiological and clinical prevalence and incidence figures. However, considering the impact of the disease beyond morbidity, mortality and changes in patient’s appearance would help to better understand the disease.
Aim: This study determined the effect of CL on quality of
life.
Methods: The sociodemographic and clinical information
related to the disease was collected using an interviewer-administered
questionnaire. The questions were categorised under seven domains: symptoms
& feelings, daily activities, work and school, leisure, personal
relationships, and treatment. Each question was scored on a three-point scale:
Very much (3), A lot (2), A little (1), Undecided (0), and Not at all (0). The
sum of the scores lay between 0 and 48. A higher score shows a worse quality of
life. The data were entered and analysed using Statistical Package for Social
Science 23. Frequencies and proportions were used to describe the data.
Differences were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.
Results: The lives of the majority (60.7%) of CL patients
were significantly affected by CL. The quality of life of patients was
moderately impacted by CL in 25% of the CL patients. In 32.1% of the CL
patients, the effect of CL on patients’ quality of life was very large. The
quality of one CL patient’s life was extremely largely affected. The disease
had a small effect on 32.1% of the CL patients. Personal relationship was the
most affected domain followed by symptoms, feelings and treatment. Future study
with large sample sizes including rural regions is required. The domain related
to personal relationships was the most affected domain followed by symptoms and
feelings, treatment and leisure. Patients with CL lesions might develop a broad
spectrum of psychosocial sufferings.
Conclusion: The Dermatology Life Quality Index demonstrates
that CL has a small to extremely very large negative effect on the quality of
life of patients. This study informs future programs and interventions aimed at
mitigating the adverse consequences of this disease on individuals' quality of
life.
Author (s) Details
Endalew Yizengaw
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health
Sciences, Bahir Dar University,
Bahir Dar, Ethiopia and Institute of Biotechnology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir
Dar, Ethiopia.
Endalkachew Nibret
Institute of Biotechnology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia and
Department of Biology, College of Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar,
Ethiopia.
Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/dhrni/v4/1791
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