SIKAP DAN TINDAKAN MASYARAKAT DUSUN BABATAN DESA JENGGAWAH KECAMATAN JENGGAWAH KABUPATEN JEMBER TERHADAP PENDERITA DAN MANTAN PENDERITA KUSTA

Abstract

The problems faced by people with leprosy are in terms of not only medical aspects but also psychosocial ones. Based on data from Health Department of Jember Regency, total leprosy sufferers from 2007 to 2008 continued to increase. The objective of this research was to analyze attitudes and actions of community of Babatan Hamlet toward leprosy patients and former patients available in Jenggawah Village, District of Jenggawah, Jember Regency. This research was a descriptive study using qualitative methods. In-depth interviews conducted onto 6 respondents. Subjects were taken from the target by using snowball sampling technique. Depth interviews were conducted to gain deeper information about the variables studied, including community attitudes and actions against leprosy patients and former patients. Based on the results of the research, community of Babatan Hamlet had possessed a good concept and belief about leprosy, the community had a feeling of disgust, fear and pity toward the leprosy sufferers and former patients. People had a tendency to act not to stay away from leprosy patients and ex-patients. The actions taken by the community towards leprosy sufferers were by giving advice to people with leprosy to be treated regularly to public health centre and reporting to the public health center if at the neighborhood there was a citizen suspected of suffering from leprosy.