Subject(s)
Community Health Services/organization & administration , Filaricides/supply & distribution , Ivermectin/supply & distribution , Africa , Filaricides/therapeutic use , Humans , International Cooperation , Ivermectin/therapeutic use , Onchocerciasis/prevention & control , Rural Health Services/organization & administrationSubject(s)
Antinematodal Agents/therapeutic use , Communication , Community Networks , Filaricides/therapeutic use , Health Education , Health Promotion , Ivermectin/therapeutic use , Onchocerciasis/prevention & control , Africa , Animals , Attitude to Health , Health Behavior , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Insect Control , Insect Vectors , SimuliidaeABSTRACT
We investigated the knowledge and perceptions the general population have about leprosy in a sociological study between 1994 and 1995 in the city of Yaounde (Cameroon). The sample consisted of 251 respondents aged between 15 and 73 (mean 30 +/- 18) years old. Asked about the causes of leprosy, 27.8% knew that the disease was caused by microbes, 33.4% did not know the cause, 17.4% thought the disease to be hereditary and 7.6% due to ill luck. Attitudes to lepers depended on the type of behavior considered. Thus, interactions that did not involve physical contact were generally welcomed (94%), whereas physical contact was shunned: only 45% would tolerate it. Intimacy was rejected by almost all subjects. Analysis of the opinion of leprosy victim-oriented social projects indicated that most subjects showed humanitarian concern for lepers, but preferred public to individual support. The study group did not want to be individually or personally committed to any form of special support for leprosy victims, but clearly saw the need and justification for public concern for these patients.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Leprosy , Urban Population , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Altruism , Cameroon , Demography , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Leprosy/etiology , Leprosy/genetics , Leprosy/microbiology , Male , Middle Aged , Public Policy , Social Behavior , Social Support , TouchABSTRACT
Les auteurs presentent une partie des resultats de deux enquetes longitudinales realisees en fevrier 1993 dans les villes de Nkongsamba et d'Edea. La population parente etait constituee des personnes de sexe feminin agees de 15 a 49 ans. Les resultats relatifs au comportement sexuel; indiquent que autant a Nkongsamba qu'a Edea; les femmes sont assez impregnees de l'information sur l'existence du SIDA (97 pour cent; 99 pour cent). Dans les deux milieux; le premier rapport sexuel de la femme intervient en moyenne a 16 ans; et la premiere utilisation du condom a 20 ans. A Edea; les cas de rapports sexuels a risque par vagabondage prostitutionnel interviennent des 18 ans et concernent 14 pour cent des femmes; contre 20 ans et 6 pour cent seulement a Nkongsamba
