Social factors operating against effective leprosy control in the highlands of Papua New Guinea(*)

Western influences have succeeded in hanging much of the traditional outlook owards leprosy which was not one of conemnation or ostracism whilst a patient ould adequately performs his obligations to is society. Introduced medical services to leprosy atients must frequently appear to be neffective to the Papua New Guinean and hese services have often caused considerble disruption to and isolation of patients, esulting in numerous social difficulties. dditionally the sophisticated, educated apua New Guinean has come to know and xpress in many instances, attitudes; of fear nd ostracism, which surround the disease n so many other parts of the world. Such factors often hamper attempts to rovide better leprosy services in the ighlands area.