The Lived Experience of Patients with Leprosy at Kagando Hospital, Uganda

Abstract

Though the world health assembly passed a resolution to “eliminate leprosy as a public health problem” by 2000, the disease is still common in many countries worldwide. Leprosy deforms and disables but seldom kills so that those who have been crippled live on getting steadily worse. Thus, the researcher was prompted to explore the lived experiences of patients with leprosy. A descriptive phenomenological qualitative approach was used for this study, to explore lived experience of patients with leprosy. In-depth audio taped interviews were conducted with six participants, data was analyzed using Colaizzi’s framework and Watson’s Human caring theory directed the study. The process of analysis identified five central themes: Living with physical disability, living with social dilemmas, living with economic hardships, relative social acceptance, and living in harmony with self and God. Notably, physical disabilities push patients with leprosy to the extreme of poverty. Failure to meet the basic human needs increase their susceptibility to chronic ulcers and an enduring hospitalization. Ability to meet the basic necessities of life was seen to increase social acceptance and respect from community members who are not affected by leprosy. Thus, economic rehabilitation is the most preferred solution to overcome the agony faced by patients with leprosy.