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The effect of leprosy-induced deformity on the nutritional status of index cases and their household members in rural South India: a socio-economic perspective

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 54, pages 643–649 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether the socioeconomic and nutritional status of cured leprosy patients with residual deformity, and their household members, was lower than that of cured leprosy patients without deformity.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Subjects: One hundred and fifty-five index cases with deformity, 100 without deformity. Also 616 household members comprising 48% of the total members enumerated.

Measurements: Nutritional status was evaluated using anthropometry. Disease characteristics, socio-economic parameters and household information were recorded using a questionnaire.

Results: Index cases with deformity had lower community acceptance (P<0.001), and employment (P<0.001) than those cases without deformity. Households of index cases with deformity had a lower income (P<0.01) and a lower expenditure on food (P<0.05). The presence of deformity (odds ratio (OR): 2.1–3.2, P<0.01), unemployment (OR: 2.3–4.3, P<0.01) and female gender (OR: 2.4, P<0.01) significantly increased the risk of index cases being undernourished, as judged by body mass index (BMI) alone, or BMI and mid-upper arm circumference. A low BMI (<18.5) in the index case significantly increased the odds of other adults (OR 2.2), adolescents (OR 2.9–3.8) and children (OR 2.2) in the household being undernourished.

Conclusions: Cured leprosy index cases with physical deformity are more undernourished than index cases without deformity. This is associated with a reduced expenditure on food, possibly brought on by increased unemployment, and a loss of income. Undernutrition in the index case increases the risk of undernutrition in other members of the family.

Sponsorship: Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 643–649.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia

    B Diffey

  2. Division of Nutrition, Department of Physiology, St John's Medical College, Bangalore, India

    M Vaz

  3. Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science, School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia

    MJ Soares

  4. Emmaus Swiss Leprosy Project, Palamaner 517408, Chittor District (A.P.), India

    AJW Jacob

  5. Centre for Nutrition and Population Health, Institute of Public Health and Health Services Research, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    LS Piers

Authors
  1. B Diffey
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  2. M Vaz
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  3. MJ Soares
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  4. AJW Jacob
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  5. LS Piers
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Contributions

Guarantor: M Vaz.

Contributors: BD arranged funding, formulated the questionnaires, collected the data, did the primary analysis and wrote the first draft of the paper. MV conceived of the study, designed the methodology, oversaw the project and edited the paper. MJS provided methodological and statistical advice, edited the paper and arranged funding. AJWJ designed the operational strategies for data collection, provided logistic support in the field and edited the paper. LSP provided methodological and statistical advice and edited the paper.

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Correspondence to M Vaz.

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Diffey, B., Vaz, M., Soares, M. et al. The effect of leprosy-induced deformity on the nutritional status of index cases and their household members in rural South India: a socio-economic perspective. Eur J Clin Nutr 54, 643–649 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601068

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601068

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