02203nas a2200253   4500000000100000008004100001653001500042653001400057653001200071653003700083653001100120653002400131100001200155700001300167700001800180700001700198700001400215700001300229245013800242856004800380490000700428520150000435022001401935       2019                            d10aDisability10aIndonesia10aleprosy10aSocio-economic development (SED)10aStigma10aTwin track approach1 aDadun D1 aPeters R1 avan Brakel WH1 aBunders JG F1 aIrwanto I1 aRegeer B00aAssessing the impact of the twin track socio-economic intervention on reducing leprosy-related stigma in Cirebon District, Indonesia.  uhttps://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/3/349/htm0 v163 a<p>The consequences of leprosy go beyond the physical, social and psychological, as leprosy can drive persons affected and their families into poverty, stigmatization and disability. This paper describes the impact of a socio-economic development (SED) intervention that uses a twin-track approach (two micro-credit models) to reduce leprosy-related stigma in Cirebon District, Indonesia. A randomized-controlled mixed-methods study design was used to test the effectiveness of the SED intervention. Three scales were used to measure stigma and participation restrictions among 30 SED clients and 57 controls, 20 in-depth interviews with SED clients and seven Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with key persons were held and 65 profiles of the clients were written up and analysed. The qualitative data shows the socio-economic status of 44 out of 65 SED clients (67%) improved. The median family income increased by 25%, more clients reported higher self-esteem, better interaction with neighbours and less stigma than before, although disclosure concerns remained an issue. The scales indicate a positive effect of the intervention on reducing stigma (e.g., Stigma Assessment and Reduction of Impact (SARI) stigma scale mean difference total score of pre and post assessment for SED clients versus the control group was 8.5 versus 5.6). A twin track socio-economic intervention, if embedded and integrated, can increase participation, and be constructive in reducing leprosy-related stigma.</p>
  a1660-4601