Knowledge of Leprosy Prevention and Management Among Physiotherapists in Pakistan: A National Cross-Sectional Study

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Published: 2026-04-29
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61919/e6729e95
Keywords:
Leprosy; Hansen Disease; Physiotherapists; Knowledge; Rehabilitation; Disability Prevention; Pakistan.

Main Article Content

Inshara Khan
Physical Therapist, National Institute of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Medicine (NIPRM) affiliated with LUMHS, Hyderabad, Pakistan
Joti Kumari
Physical Therapist, Hyderabad Institute of Medical and Allied Sciences affiliated with LUMHS, Hyderabad, Pakistan
Komal
Physical therapist at Hyderabad institute of medical and allied sciences affiliated with LUMHs
Muhammad Talha
Physical Therapist, Al Biruni Institute of Medical & Health Sciences, Pakistan
Muhammad Bilal
Physical Therapy Student, Ziauddin College of Physical Therapy, Karachi, Pakistan
Chander Parkash
Physiotherapy House Officer, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan
Mukhtiar Ali
Physical Therapist, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Leprosy remains a preventable cause of peripheral neuropathy, deformity, disability, and social stigma in endemic pockets despite elimination-level prevalence in Pakistan. Physiotherapists can support early recognition, disability prevention, rehabilitation, self-care education, and timely referral; however, national evidence on their leprosy-related knowledge is limited. Objective: To assess physiotherapists’ knowledge regarding prevention and management of leprosy across Pakistan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 422 physiotherapists from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. A structured 17-item questionnaire assessed prevention and management knowledge. Knowledge was categorized as good, fair, or poor using predefined percentage cutoffs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests in SPSS version 27, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Overall, 330 participants demonstrated good knowledge, representing 78.2% of the sample, while 19.4% had fair knowledge and 2.4% had poor knowledge. Good knowledge was highest in Punjab (81.1%), followed by Sindh (76.9%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (76.2%), and Balochistan (76.2%), with no significant provincial difference (χ²=4.3, p=0.37). Stronger domains included screening recognition (82.7%) and claw-hand deformity recognition (80.6%), while late-stage exercise prescription showed the largest gap (51.2%). Conclusion: Pakistani physiotherapists demonstrated generally good knowledge of leprosy prevention and management, but targeted training is needed in late rehabilitation and reaction recognition.

Article Details

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Vol. 4 No. 8 (2026)

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Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

1.
Inshara Khan, Joti Kumari, Komal, Muhammad Talha, Muhammad Bilal, Chander Parkash, et al. Knowledge of Leprosy Prevention and Management Among Physiotherapists in Pakistan: A National Cross-Sectional Study. JHWCR [Internet]. 2026 Apr. 29 [cited 2026 Apr. 30];4(8):1-9. Available from: https://jhwcr.com/index.php/jhwcr/article/view/1548

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