01806nas a2200193   4500000000100000008004100001653001000042653002600052653001200078653001100090653001100101100001400112700001400126700001300140245008800153050001600241520134100257022001401598       2017                            d10aGhana10aHealth-related stigma10aleprosy10aNurses10aStigma1 aBergman L1 aBritton A1 aKneck Å00aHealth-related stigma related to leprosy: What can be learned from nurses in Ghana?  aBERGMAN20173 a<p>The aim of the study was to describe nurses’ experiences of how stigma affected the care and health of patients with leprosy. Health-related stigma exists worldwide and affects patients, relatives and caregivers. Mere word ‘leprosy’ is often met with disgust, shame and fear. Knowledge of health-related stigma is important for developing care in different parts of the world. The study has a qualitative, descriptive design. Seven semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with nurses working at a hospital specializing in leprosy care. The study was carried out in the central region of Ghana. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The findings are presented as one theme, ‘Increased knowledge and holistic interventions are important in care for patients with leprosy’, and three sub-themes: ‘knowledge and beliefs are intimately interlaced with leprosy-related stigma’, ‘information is important but not enough to change behaviours and attitudes’ and ‘long-term interventions in a social context’. We conclude that caring for patients with leprosy involved long-term interventions, not at least in relation to education on a society level as well as concerning patients’ abilities to learn a skill to make an income in order to be less dependent on healthcare facilities.</p>
  a2057-1585