Southeast Nigeria Study Site

Work Package 1 INSTIL

We aimed to support self-care for people in the community who are at risk of recurring leprosy ulcers, based on an 'implementation science' approach. We aimed to identify people at risk of ulcers from registers held in our study centres; carry out baseline assessment in ulcer prevalence and severity, and quality of life and wellbeing; build on our internationally agreed principles to design local interventions in collaboration with communities, patients, clinicians and policy-makers; pilot, refine, roll out and evaluate intervention.

Work Package 2 Health needs assessment for Buruli ulcer (HABU)

HABU Cohort: we conducted a cohort study to better understand the needs of BU patients and the barriers to meeting those needs;

HABU Retrospective: a retrospective study of those who have had surgery or who complain of any symptom that can be ascribed to the treatment. Clinical observations were made and participants completed questionnaires. We aimed to interpret our findings with respect to the literature to examine for improving prognosis with time.

Work Package 4: Sustainability of Self-Help Groups

This is one of four studies on sustainability of Self-Help Groups (SHG) once funding ceases. The aim was to evaluate post-implementation of SHG projects that were implemented in SE Nigeria in order to identify barriers and facilitators to SHG implementation/effectiveness, and the feasibility of sustaining SHG in Southern Nigeria.

Scoping study of traditional healers in prevention and management of leprosy and buruli ulcer

This study aimed to explore the literature to determine the scope of practice and involvement of traditional healers in the prevention and management of Leprosy and Buruli ulcers.