Health seeking: Practices of leprosy patients in Caloocan City: Determinants and relationship with their quality of life

• Main Author: De Leon, Bob Kenneth S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2017
• Subjects: Leprosy > Patients > Philippines > Caloocan City
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5713
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study aimed to describe the health seeking practices of leprosy patients in a leprosarium or lazar house in Caloocan City. It also aimed to determine the relationship of their health seeking practices based on the level of their leprosy-related knowledge, their attitude towards seeking medical help, and the level of their perceived stigmatization in society. In addition, it aimed to ascertain the differences in their quality of life based on their health seeking practices. The study used a descriptive research design. Using a quantitative methodological approach, a survey was utilized as its data collection technique with the use of self-administered questionnaire as its instrumentation. A total of 30 active leprosy patients (>18 years old and regularly seek for medical help for their condition) were included in the study with the permission of the institution and consent of the patients. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the level of their leprosy-related knowledge, their attitude towards seeking medical help, the level of their perceived stigmatization in society, their health seeking practices, and the level of their quality of life. Results showed that they have a high level of leprosy-related knowledge, a positive attitude towards seeking medical help, a high level of perceived stigmatization, a high level of health seeking practices, and a low level of quality of life. For the inferential statistics, Chi-square, t-test, and ANOVA were performed. Results showed the following: (1) there was no significant difference in their health seeking practices based on their leprosy-related knowledge and attitude towards seeking medical help, (2) there was a significant difference in their health seeking practices, specifically on the choice of the type of healthcare facility, based on their level of stigmatization in society, and lastly, (3) there was a significant difference in their quality of life, that is on their psychological quality of life, based on their health seeking practices. Those who consulted a modern healthcare provider have higher level of psychological health compared to those who consulted a traditional healer.