Abstrak
Kusta dapat menyebabkan kecacatan permanen dan mempengaruhi aspek sosial serta ekonomi penderita. Di Kota Pariaman, persentase penderita kusta yang menyelesaikan pengobatan menurun dalam beberapa tahun terakhir. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi bentuk dukungan sosial yang diterima penderita kusta selama pengobatan berdasarkan Social Support Theory for Health, menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan desain studi kasus. Informan penelitian terdiri dari delapan penderita kusta, tujuh petugas Puskesmas, seorang pemegang program kusta di Dinas Kesehatan, dan delapan anggota keluarga penderita. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam dan Focus Group Discussion pada bulan Maret-April 2024 dan dianalisis secara tematik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan semua penderita kusta menjalani pengobatan selama 12 bulan. Mayoritas penderita konsisten dalam pengobatan meskipun menghadapi efek samping dan motivasi yang rendah. Semua penderita menerima dukungan sosial berupa dukungan emosional, instrumental, informasi, penghargaan, dan jaringan sosial, baik dari keluarga, petugas Puskesmas dan pengelola program kusta Dinas Kesehatan Kota Pariaman. Dukungan emosional meningkatkan motivasi penderita, sementara dukungan instrumental dari keluarga seperti bantuan finansial berperan dalam memfasilitasi proses pengobatan. Puskesmas dan Dinas Kesehatan memberikan dukungan melalui penyuluhan tentang kusta dan deteksi dini ketika melakukan kunjungan rumah dan pengantaran obat. Dinas Kesehatan juga berkoordinasi dengan Dinas Sosial untuk memberikan bantuan materi kepada penderita. Penelitian ini juga menemukan bahwa penderita tetap aktif dalam kegiatan sosial meskipun cenderung menyembunyikan kondisinya. Untuk itu, Kota Pariaman dapat membentuk komunitas khusus bagi penderita kusta sebagai upaya membangun jaringan dukungan yang lebih terstruktur dan menjadi forum pertukaran informasi dan sumber dukungan bagi penderita.
Leprosy can cause permanent disabilities and affect the social and economic aspects of the patients' lives. In the city of Pariaman, the percentage of leprosy patients completing their treatment has decreased in recent years. This study aims to analyze the forms of social support received by leprosy patients during treatment based on the Social Support Theory for Health, using a qualitative method with a case study design. The research informants consisted of eight leprosy patients, seven public health center officers, one leprosy program officer at the Health Office, and eight family members of the patients. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions conducted in March-April 2024 and analyzed thematically. The results of the study showed that all leprosy patients underwent treatment for 12 months. The majority of patients remained consistent in their treatment despite facing side effects and low motivation. All patients received social support in the form of emotional, instrumental, informational, appraisal, and social network support from family, Puskesmas staff, and the leprosy program managers at the Pariaman Health Office. Emotional support helped increase the patients' motivation, while instrumental support from family, such as financial assistance, facilitated the treatment process. The Puskesmas and Health Office provided support through leprosy education and early detection during home visits and medication deliveries. The Health Office also coordinated with the Social Service to provide material assistance to the patients. The study also found that patients remained active in social activities, although they tended to hide their condition. Therefore, it is recommended that the city of Pariaman establish a special community for leprosy patients as an effort to build a more structured support network and become a forum for information exchange and support for the patients.