Projects

Building resilience in individuals and families

  • Research priorities: Stigma and discrimination
  • Country: Brazil, India
  • Status: Completed

Project coordination

Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil 

Quite a number of aspects of discrimination have been researched. Despite these efforts, people affected by leprosy and related diseases still face major barriers to inclusion. This study is exploring a different way of promoting inclusion – focusing on the resilience of the person, and their family.

Promoting inclusion where it matters most: Building resilience in individuals and families based on evidence and participatory methods.

 Duration

May 2018 - April 2020

Project Coordination

Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil

 

Partners

 

Project summary

If people affected by leprosy (or other neglected tropical diseases, particularly “diseases of discrimination”) are to achieve their rights and full humanity, their inclusion in all aspects of life and society is vital. Unfortunately they routinely experience discrimination in relationships, cultural activities, work, education, leisure, family, livelihoods, etc. In many cases, this also affects the whole family of the person affected. The whole family is discriminated against in many ways. Also, in some cases the person faces exclusion from within their family. This is such a serious problem that for the majority of people, the stigma and discrimination they face becomes internalised, which further exacerbates the problem.

 

Quite a number of aspects of discrimination have been researched. There has been worthwhile research on repealing laws, on changing attitudes, providing accurate information and on using positive messages in the media, etc. Despite these efforts, people affected by leprosy and related diseases still face major barriers to inclusion. This study is exploring a different way of promoting inclusion – focusing on the resilience of the person, and their family. It is seeking to tackle this vexing problem from the perspective of the person and their family. It is taking a positive approach, focusing on psychological resilience. The study recognises that while there has been considerable research on resilience in areas like disability and HIV/AIDS, for the area of leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases, it is quite new. That is why it is using research methods that are particularly suited to drawing information from other areas, applying this information to a practical intervention, and then conducting a small pilot study to find out if the practical intervention is worthwhile.

 

 

Budget

€ 30,182 | Project number: 706.18.46