A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY ON LEPROSY CLIENTS' EXPERIENCE IN HAVING LEPROSY TREATMENT AT JENGGAWAH PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER AREA AT JEMBER, EAST JAVA, INDONESIA

Abstract

A part of our population that is mainly at risk in the community is the leprosy clients. They faced problems in physical, psychological, social, economical, and spiritual aspects. Such problems are needed to be managed by providing treatment that prevents disturbance in body function as well as empowers leprosy clients in the community to be efficient enough to fulfill the demands of daily life. The purpose of this study is aimed to gain the value and meaning of leprosy adult clients' experience in having leprosy treatment in the community. The study was done by qualitative approach in descriptive phenomenology design. The data collection method was done by in depth interviewing and taking field notes. The participants were leprosy adult clients who are under treatment and MDT medication at Jenggawah Public Health Center Area in Jember. The data was treated into interview transcripts and then was analyzed by Collaizi 's technique. The study results are themes which are namely negative response when diagnosed to leprosy, positive response when diagnosed to leprosy, body image, disease description, client compliance to MDT, ability in fulfilling the basic needs, ability to have self care, types of services or assistance, implementing family health task, expectation to self, expectation to family, expectation to society, and expectation to Public Health Center. The results of this study showed that adult clients' experience in having leprosy treatment were unique and have a large range of variation and therefore it needed support from all parties to make leprosy clients healthy, independent and productive in their life. These results are expected to be a foundation for prevention and promotion program as well as leprosy clients' health protection in having leprosy treatment by integrating community nursing intervention model and involving the relevant institution.