Psychosocial effects of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis on Patients in Northwestern Ethiopia: A qualitative study

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a serious skin disease prevalent in many countries around the world, and in Ethiopia, it presents with stigmatizing lesions sometimes compared to leprosy. However, little attention has been given to the psychosocial impact of CL on affected individuals. To address this gap, we conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 13 CL patients (three patients with diffuse CL, three with localized CL, and seven with mucocutaneous leishmaniasisis). Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data collected from the in-depth interviews. Our analysis revealed two themes: psychological burden, and social burden. As to psychosocial burden, patients reported experiencing anger, sadness, shame, fear, and hopelessness, along with feelings of inferiority.. Related to the social burden of CL, self-stigmatization, stigma, disrupted life, disability, community reaction, and lack of social support were identified as subthemes. These findings highlight the overlooked psychosocial problems faced by Ethiopian CL patients and underscore the need for patient-oriented treatment packages. Policymakers and researchers should focus on creating community awareness on CL along with integrating psychological interventions.