ある集団における人々のらいに対する考え方と態度

Abstract

The authors conducted a survey on the conception and attitude to leprosy using questionnaire in September of 1982. The social groups examined were university students and one of their parents, and the persons staying in a home for the aged. The source of the information about leprosy was the massmedia for 40.2% of the persons. Many persons had obtained knowledge on the severe and miserable social situation of the patients before and during the World War II. Eighty-six percent of the persons had had no contacts with such patients and they seemed to build up the body picture of the patient only with the visualization of the image and an emotional shade. Half of those surveyed thought that the disease was infectious. Concerning the social contact in society, the aged persons seemed to show flexibility in the opinion while those in the middle-aged group showed a negative attitude. Though the present results can not be generalized to the whole society, they may partially reflect the present general attitude toward leprosy.