Gender differentials in the social and family life of leprosy patients

A study was carried out at the Leprosy Control Unit, Government Medical College, Nagpur, India, to investigate gender differentials in the social and family life of leprosy patients. The study included 486 (268 males and 218 females) leprosy patients, who were diagnosed and registered at least 1 year prior to the data collection. It was observed that leprosy patients were isolated and refrained from various activities in the family. However, the effect of disease on this isolation was significantly greater in females as compared to males. Similarly, although, men and women were both affected in terms of their social life, women suffered more isolation and rejection from the society. The current study describes the gender differentials in the social and family life of leprosy patients in Central India.