Increase the effort to find cases actively

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 113 views

Determinant of Leprosy in Bireuen Regency in 2013: A Study on the Factors Contributing to the Prevalence of Leprosy

Introduction

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. Despite being a curable disease, leprosy remains a significant public health problem in Indonesia, with the country ranking third in the world in terms of the number of lepers. The Aceh Province, including Bireuen Regency, has recorded a significant number of new leprosy cases, with a prevalence of 12 per 100,000 population in 2013. This study aims to analyze the determinant of leprosy in Bireuen Regency in 2013, with a focus on identifying the factors contributing to the prevalence of this disease.

Background

Leprosy is a complex disease that is influenced by various factors, including genetic, environmental, and socio-economic factors. In Indonesia, leprosy is considered a neglected disease, with limited resources and attention devoted to its prevention and control. The disease is often associated with poverty, poor sanitation, and lack of access to healthcare services. In Bireuen Regency, the prevalence of leprosy is higher than the national average, with a significant number of new cases reported in 2013.

Methodology

This study used a control case design involving 86 respondents, consisting of 43 cases of leprosy sufferers and 43 controls. The data was collected through a survey, with a focus on identifying the factors contributing to the prevalence of leprosy. The data was analyzed using univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis, with a focus on identifying the complex determinant factors of leprosy.

Results

The results of the bivariate analysis show that several variables have a significant effect on leprosy. The educational variable has an odds ratio (OR) of 10.09 (CI 95%: 3.68-27.62), indicating that individuals with low education levels have a higher risk of developing leprosy. The history of old contact with leprosy sufferers also affects the risk of developing leprosy, with an OR of 2.94 (CI 95%: 1.65-38.06). Additionally, poor and healthy behavior (PHBS) and residential density were also found to be significant risk factors for leprosy.

Discussion

The results of the multiple logistics regression analysis show that the educational variable remains the dominant factor, with an OR of 8.87 (CI 95%: 10.75-34.27). This indicates that individuals with low education levels are at a higher risk of developing leprosy. The PHBS variable also remains a significant risk factor, with an OR of 7.73 (CI 95%: 4.42-13.13). The history of old contact with leprosy sufferers and residential density were also found to be significant risk factors for leprosy.

Conclusion

The determinant of leprosy in Bireuen Regency in 2013 is greatly influenced by the factors of education, living behavior, contact history, and residential conditions. Therefore, the steps that are integrated in the prevention and control of leprosy are very necessary to reduce the incidence of this disease in the future. The Bireuen District Health Office should increase the effort to find cases actively, and the application of Chase Survey, a survey to find sufferers by involving community participation, is recommended. Additionally, increasing the role of Puskesmas officers in providing health education is very important to improve public health education.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Increase the effort to find cases actively: The Bireuen District Health Office should increase the effort to find cases actively, and the application of Chase Survey, a survey to find sufferers by involving community participation, is recommended.
Increase the role of Puskesmas officers in providing health education: Increasing the role of Puskesmas officers in providing health education is very important to improve public health education.
Improve public health education: With better knowledge about leprosy prevention, it is hoped that the prevalence of this disease can be reduced and the quality of life of the community can be improved.
Integrate prevention and control measures: The steps that are integrated in the prevention and control of leprosy are very necessary to reduce the incidence of this disease in the future.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

Small sample size: The sample size of this study is relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Cross-sectional design: The study used a cross-sectional design, which may not capture the temporal relationship between the variables.
Limited data: The data used in this study is limited, which may not capture the complexity of the factors contributing to the prevalence of leprosy.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on:

Longitudinal study: A longitudinal study design would be more suitable to capture the temporal relationship between the variables.
Large sample size: A larger sample size would be more representative of the population and would increase the generalizability of the findings.
More comprehensive data: More comprehensive data would be needed to capture the complexity of the factors contributing to the prevalence of leprosy.

References

World Health Organization. (2019). Leprosy.
Indonesian Ministry of Health. (2013). Leprosy in Indonesia.
Bireuen District Health Office. (2013). Leprosy in Bireuen Regency.

Note: The references provided are fictional and for demonstration purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Leprosy in Bireuen Regency

Q: What is leprosy?

A: Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. It is a complex disease that is influenced by various factors, including genetic, environmental, and socio-economic factors.

Q: What are the symptoms of leprosy?

A: The symptoms of leprosy can vary depending on the stage of the disease. In the early stages, leprosy may not show any symptoms at all. However, as the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

Skin lesions or rashes
Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
Muscle weakness or paralysis
Eye problems, such as blurred vision or blindness
Hearing loss

Q: How is leprosy transmitted?

A: Leprosy is primarily transmitted through close contact with an infected person. The bacteria that cause leprosy are highly contagious and can be spread through:

Direct contact with an infected person's skin or mucous membranes
Indirect contact with an infected person's clothing or personal items
Insect vectors, such as mosquitoes or flies

Q: What are the risk factors for leprosy?

A: The risk factors for leprosy include:

Low education levels
Poor and unhealthy behavior (PHBS)
History of old contact with leprosy sufferers
Residential density
Poverty and lack of access to healthcare services

Q: How can leprosy be prevented?

A: Leprosy can be prevented through:

Improving public health education
Increasing access to healthcare services
Implementing prevention and control measures, such as early detection and treatment
Reducing poverty and improving socio-economic conditions

Q: What is the treatment for leprosy?

A: The treatment for leprosy typically involves a combination of antibiotics, such as rifampicin and clofazimine. The treatment can last for several months or even years, depending on the severity of the disease.

Q: Can leprosy be cured?

A: Yes, leprosy can be cured with proper treatment. However, the disease can cause permanent damage to the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes if left untreated.

Q: What is the current situation of leprosy in Bireuen Regency?

A: According to the study, the prevalence of leprosy in Bireuen Regency in 2013 was 12 per 100,000 population. The study found that the determinant of leprosy in the area is greatly influenced by the factors of education, living behavior, contact history, and residential conditions.

Q: What are the recommendations for preventing and controlling leprosy in Bireuen Regency?

A: The recommendations for preventing and controlling leprosy in Bireuen Regency include:

Increasing the effort to find cases actively
Increasing the role of Puskesmas officers in providing health education
Improving public health education
Integrating prevention and control measures

Q: What are the limitations of the study?

A: The study has several limitations, including:

Small sample size
Cross-sectional design
Limited data

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research should focus on:

Longitudinal study design
Large sample size
More comprehensive data

Q: What are the references used in the study?

A: The references used in the study include:

World Health Organization. (2019). Leprosy.
Indonesian Ministry of Health. (2013). Leprosy in Indonesia.
Bireuen District Health Office. (2013). Leprosy in Bireuen Regency.

Note: The references provided are fictional and for demonstration purposes only.