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Community involvement in the care of persons affected by podoconiosis - a lesson for other skin NTDs

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posted on 2023-06-09, 15:04 authored by Abebayehu Tora, Asrat Mengiste, Gail DaveyGail Davey, Maya SemrauMaya Semrau
Podoconiosis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) characterized by lower-leg swelling (lymphedema), which is caused by long-term exposure to irritant red-clay soils found within tropical volcanic high-altitude environments with heavy rainfall. The condition places a substantial burden on affected people, their families and communities, including disability, economic consequences, social exclusion, and stigma; mental disorders and distress are also common. This paper focuses on community-based care of podoconiosis, and, in particular, the role that community involvement can have in the reduction of stigma against people affected by podoconiosis. We first draw on research conducted in Ethiopia for this, which has included community-based provision of care and treatment, education, and awareness-raising, and socioeconomic rehabilitation to reduce stigma. Since people affected by podoconiosis and other skin NTDs often suffer the double burden of mental-health illness, which is similarly stigmatized, we then point to examples from the mental-health field in low-resource community settings to suggest avenues for stigma reduction and increased patient engagement that may be relevant across a range of skin NTDs, though further research is needed on this.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease

ISSN

2414-6366

Publisher

MDPI

Issue

3

Volume

3

Page range

87 1-8

Department affiliated with

  • Global Health and Infection Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Wellcome Trust Brighton and Sussex Centre for Global Health Research Publications
  • Centre for Global Health Policy Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-09-13

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-09-13

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-09-13

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