Knowledge and work performance of multi-purpose workers under national leprosy eradication programme in Satara district, Maharashtra.

After integration of leprosy services into general health care services, peripheral health care workers played important role in leprosy elimination. The objectives of present study are to assess the knowledge and work performance of multi-purpose workers and it's correlation towards eradication of leprosy under national leprosy eradication programme in Satara district. The cross sectional study was conducted over a period of 6 months includes 71 Primary health centres (PHCs) and 6 Urban leprosy centres (ULCs) providing leprosy services to whole Satara district, Maharashtra. Random sampling technique was used to select study subjects (Multi-purpose workers, MPWs) and data was collected by using pre-tested semi structured proforma by personal interview method. Percentage distribution and statistical association between knowledge and work performance was analysed. More than 88.31% MPWs had good knowledge about leprosy and National leprosy eradication programme (NLEP), similarly more than 88.42% showed good work performance under NLEP in Satara district. Significant statistical association was existed between age and work experience of MPWs with their work performance under NLEP (chi2=11.2, p=0.023* and chi2=10.1, p=0.038*). Significant correlation was also observed between knowledge of MPWs about leprosy and NLEP with their work performance under NLEP (r=0.66, p=0.001*). Satara district achieved leprosy elimination which was mainly due to very good knowledge and quality work performance by multi-purpose workers.