2025/03/31 by Mboho, Kingdom Sunday, Peters, Moses Idongesit
#Cost of reintegration #Ekpene Obom and Etinan #ex-leprosy patients
paper · doi:10.60787/aasd.vol2no2.50
The research examined the social inclusion and reintegration of former leprosy-affected persons in Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It identified issues and variables contributing to the social and economic cost of reintegrating former leprosy-affected persons treated at The Leprosy Hospital, Ekpene Obom in Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The big-net approach was adopted which makes every participating respondent part of the sample at the end the researchers engaged a total of 393 participants which formed the sample size for the study, where a simple snowball technique was adopted in the distribution of the questionnaire. The socio-demographic data of the study respondents were presented using the percentage method and data collected on the subject matters of the study were analysed using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (r). The Pearson Product Moment Correlation(r) was calculated using SPSS. Findings revealed that stigmatization, discrimination, exclusion and negative societal relations with ex-leprosy patients contribute great social and economic costs for the reintegration of ex-leprosy patients as confirmed by the results of negative correlation between the variables. It was suggested that there should be empowerment programmes for ex-lepers to enable their self-reliance and dependence in the process of their reintegration. Also, there should be orientation programmes for the ex-lepers to boost their self-image and give them good knowledge on how to get back to their former life effectively and gain acceptability easily. There should also be community orientation programmes for the acceptability of ex-lepers to enable their reintegration.