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Deps P, Delboni L, Oliveira TIA, Collin SM, Andrade MA, Maciel ELN. Steps towards eliminating Hansen's disease stigma. Int Health 2023; 15:iii7-iii9. [PMID: 38118154 PMCID: PMC10732667 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihad050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Persons affected by Hansen's disease (PAHD) can develop long-term physical disabilities and psychological problems if the disease is not managed promptly and correctly. The complex and multi-faceted nature of stigma related to Hansen's Disease, and the discrimination arising from it, demands multiple parallel steps to improve the health, well-being and lived experience of People Affected by Hansen's Disease, including: 1) adoption and pursuance of a human rights based approach; 2) revocation of discriminatory laws; 3) education and training for healthcare workers; 4) new techniques and therapies to diagnose and treat HD without side-effects and to reduce risk of disabilities; 5) elimination of stigmatising terminology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Deps
- Department of Social Medicine and Postgraduate Programme in Infectious Diseases, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES 29043-900, Brazil
| | - Lucas Delboni
- Department of Social Medicine and Postgraduate Programme in Infectious Diseases, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES 29043-900, Brazil
| | - Thauyra I A Oliveira
- Department of Social Medicine and Postgraduate Programme in Infectious Diseases, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES 29043-900, Brazil
| | - Simon M Collin
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UD, UK
| | - Maria A Andrade
- Department of Social Medicine and Postgraduate Programme in Infectious Diseases, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES 29043-900, Brazil
| | - Ethel L N Maciel
- Secretária de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente (SVSA), Ministério da Saúde, Brasília, DF 70655-775, Brazil
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Spekker O, Tihanyi B, Kis L, Madai Á, Pálfi G, Csuvár-Andrási R, Wicker E, Szalontai C, Samu L, Koncz I, Marcsik A, Molnár E. Leprosy: The age-old companion of humans - Re-evaluation and comparative analysis of Avar-period cases with Hansen's disease from the Danube-Tisza Interfluve, Hungary. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2023; 142:102393. [PMID: 37684080 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2023.102393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, our knowledge of leprosy in the past has substantially been enriched. Nonetheless, much still remains to be discovered, especially in regions and periods from where no written sources are available. To fill in some research gaps, we provide the comparative analysis of eight Avar-period leprosy cases from the Danube-Tisza Interfluve (Hungary). In every case, to reconstruct the biological consequences of leprosy, the detected bony changes were linked with palaeopathological and modern medical information. To reconstruct the social consequences of being affected by leprosy, conceptualisation of the examined individuals' treatment in death was conducted. In every case, the disease resulted in deformation and disfigurement of the involved anatomical areas (rhinomaxillary region, feet, and/or hands) with difficulties in conducting certain physical activities. These would have been disadvantageous for the examined individuals and limited or changed their possibilities to participate in social situations. The most severe cases would have required continuous support from others to survive. Our findings indicate that, despite their very visible disease and associated debility, the examined communities did not segregate leprosy sufferers but provided and cared for them, and maintained a strong enough social network that made their survival possible even after becoming incapable of self-sufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Spekker
- Ancient and Modern Human Genomics Competence Centre, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary; Institute of Archaeological Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Múzeum körút 4/B, H-1088, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Balázs Tihanyi
- Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Archaeogenetics, Institute of Hungarian Research, Úri utca 54-56, H-1014, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Luca Kis
- Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Archaeogenetics, Institute of Hungarian Research, Úri utca 54-56, H-1014, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Ágota Madai
- Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Anthropology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Ludovika tér 2-6, H-1083, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - György Pálfi
- Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary.
| | | | - Erika Wicker
- Kecskeméti Katona József Museum, Bethlen körút 1, H-6000, Kecskemét, Hungary.
| | - Csaba Szalontai
- National Institute of Archaeology, Hungarian National Museum, Múzeum körút 14-16, H-1088, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Levente Samu
- Institute of Archaeological Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Múzeum körút 4/B, H-1088, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - István Koncz
- Institute of Archaeological Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Múzeum körút 4/B, H-1088, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Antónia Marcsik
- Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Erika Molnár
- Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary.
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