LEPROSY AS CAUSE OF DEFORMITY.

Leprosy is a leading cause of permanent physical disability. Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprous, an acid-fast, rod-shaped bacillus. WHO, fact sheet on leprosy reveals that the disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. Leprosy is curable and treatment provided in the early stages averts disability. According to WHO; 1.27 lakhs new cases of leprosy in India during 2013-14 and 46845 new cases of leprosy during 2013-14 were women. Disabilities and stigma resulted in lower education, income, and marriage prospects for all elderly women. To change people beliefs and attitudes about leprosy and disability and to improve access to rehabilitation services action researchers need to take action. Therefore it is very important to learn about these aspects to know the gaps at various stages and to evolve effective strategy to fill those gaps which have a positive influence on the outcome of any preventive measures and improves the life condition of those affected elderly women. The aim of the paper is to find out explain women, the ways in which women experience deformity and disability due to leprosy and to depict social stigma and alienation due to leprosy among elderly women. The method involves data collected through secondary sources and arrived at certain conclusions and made suggestions based on that.