Emotions, Relationships and Behaviour: a Qualitative Study on Experiences of Stigma among Persons Affected by Leprosy in Northern Nigeria

Tahir Dahiru; Zubairu Iliyasu; Aliyu T Mande; Anna T van 't Noordende; Muktar H Aliyu

Tahir Dahiru ⁽¹⁾, Zubairu Iliyasu ⁽²⁾, Aliyu T Mande ⁽³⁾, Anna T van 't Noordende ⁽⁴⁾, Muktar H Aliyu ⁽⁵⁾

(1) Leprosy and TB Relief Initiative Nigeria & Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana, Nigeria,

(2) Department of Community Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria, Nigeria,

(3) Community medicine department, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria,

(4) NLR, Amsterdam,,Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Netherlands,

(5) Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Tennessee, United States

Issue
Vol. 33 No. 4 (2022): Winter

Submitted
September 2, 2021

Published
March 4, 2023

Keywords:

Emotions, relationships, behaviour, stigma, leprosy, Nigeria

PDF

Abstract

Purpose: Leprosy is a highly stigmatised disease with far-reaching psychosocial and economic consequences. This study explored the social consequences of leprosy and the factors that drive stigma among persons affected by leprosy in northern Nigeria.

Method: The study used a cross-sectional design with a qualitative approach. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 persons affected by leprosy. Data were collected from September to November 2020. ILEP’s four stigma domains (emotions, thoughts, behaviour and relationships) were used to develop the interview guide and to analyse the data. The framework approach to thematic analysis was performed.

Results: The study identified: (1) negative societal attitudes and behaviour towards persons affected by leprosy, (2) restrictions in social participation among affected persons, such as in communal eating, job opportunities and education, (3) negative impact of leprosy on marital life and marriage prospects, also experienced by family members, and (4) negative emotions such as sadness and despair. Some of the problems seemed to be caused by negative perceptions and a lack of knowledge of leprosy. The main coping strategies included adjustments in behaviour (e.g., marrying other persons affected by leprosy and communal eating amongst persons affected), and religion (by seeking consolation through faith in God/Allah).

Conclusion: High levels of stigma were experienced by the participants. This underscores the importance of sustained information, education and communication interventions via traditional and modern media, to fill knowledge gaps and address misconceptions and myths about leprosy.

Full text article

Generated from XML file

Authors

Tahir Dahiru

Leprosy and TB Relief Initiative Nigeria & Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana

drtahirdahiru@gmail.com (Primary Contact)

Zubairu Iliyasu

Department of Community Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria

Aliyu T Mande

Community medicine department, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria

Anna T van 't Noordende

NLR, Amsterdam,,Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam

Muktar H Aliyu

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Tennessee

Author Biographies

Tahir Dahiru, Leprosy and TB Relief Initiative Nigeria & Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana

Tahir works with Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief (LTR) Initiative, Nigeria, as its Executive Director in charge of Operations, Leadership and Management. Member and Secretary to the Board of Trustees of LTR. The organisation provides leprosy and tuberculosis control services in northern Nigeria including Kano state. Tahir is also a Ph.D. student of Texila American University, Guyana

Zubairu Iliyasu, Department of Community Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria

Zubairu is a Professor of Public Health, Epidemiology nd Biostatistics at the Department of Community Medicine, Bayero University, Kano. The author is also the local supervisor for the Ph.D. thesis being undertaken by Tahir Dahiru

Aliyu T Mande, Community medicine department, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria

Aliyu is a Senior Qualitative Researcher with experience in design, data collection, transcription and translation of qualitative data. He works at the Community Medicine Department, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna Nigeria.

Anna T van 't Noordende, NLR, Amsterdam,,Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam

Anna is associated with the Programs, Research & Partnerships Department, NLR, Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She supported the development of the in-depth interview guide and was involved in the analysis, and interpretation of findings.

Muktar H Aliyu, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Tennessee

Muktar is affliated to the Department of Health Policy and Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, Tennessee, USA, and is also a Professor of Public Health.

1.

Dahiru T, Iliyasu Z, Mande AT, van 't Noordende AT, Aliyu MH. Emotions, Relationships and Behaviour: a Qualitative Study on Experiences of Stigma among Persons Affected by Leprosy in Northern Nigeria. DCIDJ [Internet]. 2023 Mar. 4 [cited 2025 Feb. 23];33(4):6-28. Available from: https://dcidj.uog.edu.et/index.php/up-j-dcbrid/article/view/528

Download Citation

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License By-NC-ND 4.0 that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

Article Sidebar