03934nas a2200553   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001200054653001200066653001500078653001800093653003200111653002400143653001500167100001700182700001100199700001500210700001300225700001000238700001500248700001100263700001600274700001100290700001300301700001400314700001800328700001100346700001400357700001000371700001100381700001400392700001100406700001500417700001100432700001000443700001400453700001700467700001400484700001600498700001300514700001300527700001300540700001200553245014400565856011000709300001100819520253600830022001403366       2026                            d  c09/202610aNigeria10aAnxiety10aDepression10aMental Health10aNeglected Tropical Diseases10aPerson-centred care10aWell-being1 aAfolaranmi T1 aDogo J1 aAkinnusi P1 aGofung C1 aOjo T1 aAfolayan O1 aPali M1 aDanfulani C1 aUgwu L1 aNWAFOR C1 aBestman C1 aEmma-Joseph J1 aOgbu P1 aIbrahim B1 aOde P1 aMusa A1 aCleobas J1 aUnam B1 aOgunleye G1 aDuru E1 aAbu F1 aJimenez C1 aGine-March A1 aPozzati M1 aIorkighir P1 aKumaga S1 aOnyima A1 aObindo J1 aEaton J00aStrengthening access to people-centred mental healthcare for people affected by skin neglected tropical diseases in Nigeria: a pilot study.  uhttps://academic.oup.com/inthealth/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/inthealth/ihag092/71431580/ihag092.pdf  a1 - 143 a<p><strong>OBJECTIVES: </strong></p>

<p>Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) contribute to the global burden of mental health conditions, largely mediated through mechanisms of stigma and social exclusion. Within this group, skin NTDs are particularly prominent, as visible deformities often drive stigma reinforced by cultural myths, fear of contagion, social isolation, and associated poverty. The WHO recommends a collaborative cross-sectoral approach in its NTD Road Map 2021-30, integrating care for people with NTDs. This study was conducted as a pilot to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of a person-centred intervention care package on mental health outcomes and stigma among people with skin NTDs in Nigeria.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong></p>

<p>This quasi-experimental mixed-methods study, with a before-and-after design, was conducted from August 2023 to June 2025 in five local government areas in Nigeria among people with skin NTDs (leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, and Buruli ulcer) using a convenience sampling technique. Depression, anxiety, and well-being were assessed before and after implementation of a package of person-centred care interventions. In addition, 10 focus group discussions were conducted among people with skin NTDs, along with 21 key informant interviews with healthcare workers and relevant stakeholders to explore the feasibility of scaling up interventions.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong></p>

<p>At baseline, 456 people with skin NTDs were enrolled [37.9% female; median age 45 (IQR 25-80) years], of whom 315 were followed up at endline providing paired data. The proportion screening positive for depression decreased from 213/315 (67.6%) to 88/315 (27.9%), and anxiety from 201/315 (63.8%) to 56/315 (17.8%). Well-being improved, with 156/315 (49.5%) reporting good well-being at baseline compared with 193/315 (61.3%) at endline. Additionally, a package of interventions-including capacity building for health workers, referral systems, peer support groups, livelihood support activities, and anti-stigma campaigns-was feasible, acceptable, and well integrated into existing contexts, with perceived improvements in mental health outcomes and stigma.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong></p>

<p>This pilot study suggests that the person-centred care package is feasible and acceptable in this low-resourced setting in Nigeria and is associated with improvements in mental health outcomes and stigma among people with skin NTDs in Nigeria.</p>
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