neglected patients with a neglected disease a qualitative study of lymphatic filariasis被忽视的一种被忽视的疾病患者淋巴丝虫病的定性研究.pdfVIP

Neglected Patients with a Neglected Disease? A Qualitative Study of Lymphatic Filariasis 1 2 3 4 1 Myrtle Perera , Margaret Whitehead *, David Molyneux , Mirani Weerasooriya , Godfrey Gunatilleke 1 Marga Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2 Division of Public Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 3 Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 4 Filariasis Research, Training and Service Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka Abstract Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a so-called neglected tropical disease, currently overshadowed by higher-profile efforts to address malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Despite recent successes in arresting transmission, some 40 million people who already have the disease have been largely neglected. This study aims to increase understanding of how this vulnerable, neglected group can be helped. Methods: We used purposive sampling to select 60 men and women with filarial lymphoedema (45 with filarial elephantiasis and 15 men with filarial hydrocoele) from the south of Sri Lanka in 2004–2005. Participants were selected to give a balance of men and women and poor and nonpoor, and a range of stages of the disease. Participants’ experiences and the consequences of their disease for the household were explored with in-depth qualitative, semistructured interviews. Findings: LF was extremely debilitating to participants over long periods of time. The stigma attached to the condition caused social isolation and emotional distress, and delayed diagnosis a