Leprostigma negatively impacts on leprosy afflicted persons (LAPs). Understanding the concept of
Leprostigma is very important in providing optimal nursing care for LAPs. However, this concept remains
obscure in the literature and has been defined differently in various studies. The use of different terms for this
concept has made its use more complicated in practice. This concept analysis attempts to analyze the
leprostigma concept to clarify, reduce ambiguities, semantic integration, and increase stability in applying the
concept. The relevant literature was reviewed using Walker and Avant's framework, and the attributes of
Leprostigma were determined. Leprostigma manifests in three main faces that their attributes determine the
boundaries of the concept. Enacted-Leprostigma defines as externally humiliating behaviors and
discrimination experienced and perceived by LAPs. Felt-Leprostigma is the anticipation, expectance,
prejudgment, or fear of LAPs of label attachment and discrimination by others. Self-leprostigma defines as an
unfavorable personal experience of self-discredited, feeling of inferiority, and self-loathing. Leprostigma
developed from a primitive concept with emphasis on LAPs attributes to the concept with a complex social
structure. It occurs in a broad spectrum of unfair and negative consequences through a dynamic process. This
concept analysis can improve the implementation of more extended studies and the development of research
tools as well as practice. It is observed that different kinds of Leprostigma have overlapping values and affect
each other. As a result of analysis presented in this study, it is recommended that the term "Leprostigma" be
used instead of various leprosy-related stigma terms.
Concept Analysis, Leprostigma, Leprosy, Stigma, Walker and Avant. Keywords :
http://www.ijl.org.in
Review Article
Indian J Lepr 2020, 92 : 243-256
© Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh, New Delhi
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SM Mahdavi Shahri, Ph.D. Student in Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, International Campus, Iran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
N Mohammadi, Associate Professor, Nursing Care Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
A Nikbakht Nasrabadi, Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
A Khamesipour, Professor, Center for Research and Training in Skin Disease and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences,
Tehran,Iran.
SM Mahdavi Shahri, Correspondence : Email : mahdavi_m@razi.tums.ac.ir
Leprostigma : A Concept Analysis
SM Mahdavi Shahri , N Mohammadi , A Nikbakht Nasrabadi , A Khamesipour
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Introduction
Leprosy is one of the age-oldest diseases which
had been described in the ancient literature of
India and China
. In scientific writings, perhaps
(Grön 1973, Trautman 1984,
Bennett et al 2008)
the oldest narrative belongs to Avicenna, which
described leprosy and patients characteristics
(Zamparoni 2017). Leprosy remains a significant
public health problem in several parts of the
world. In 2017, WHO reports that there were
Received : 23.01.2020 Accepted : 17.06.2020