Transmission of health information on leprosy from children to their families in an urban centre.

A health education study utilizing a homework assignment was carried out in a private secondary school in Bangalore, South India, to determine whether health information about leprosy would be transferred from children to their families. After a pre-test questionnaire on knowledge and attitude about leprosy was administered to 3 Standard VII classes and their family members, a different comprehensive health education session was given to each class: (i) leprosy plus a homework assignment; (ii) leprosy alone; and (iii) tuberculosis alone. A post-test questionnaire was administered to all participants 1 month later. Of the 118 children and 229 family members who entered the study, almost 80% of the participants completed it. The children in the leprosy-educated groups showed significant improvement in knowledge compared with controls, but no change in their attitude towards leprosy. Although post-test responses of household members showed modest improvement in knowledge about leprosy, attitudes remained the same or worsened. The homework assignment did not appear to improve the transmission of health information to household members. This study showed that the knowledge level of family members in South India could be improved modestly by educating their children about leprosy. However, attitudes towards leprosy were unaffected or worsened.