<![CDATA[Latar Belakang : Kusta adalah penyakit yang sangat berdampak besar baik untuk penderita maupun masyarakat di sekitar. Tujuan : untuk mengeksplorasi persepsi (stigma) masyarakat terhadap penyakit kusta. Metode : Desain mixed method: multistage. Penelitian dimulai dengan pengumpulan data kualitatif yaitu dengam in-depth interview kemudian dilanjutkan dengan pengembangan program edukasi dan uji eksperimen program edukasi dalam memperbaiki stigma negatif masyarakat. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Kelurahan Sumompo, Lingkungan 3, Kec. Tuminting. Terdapat 14 partisipan pada wawancara dan 32 partisipan pada tahap eksperimen. Data kualitatif di analisis secara tematik sedangkan data kuantitatif dianalisis secara deskriptif komparasi. Hasil : Data kualitatif didapatkan adanya 2 tema yaitu stigma negatif dan stigma positif. Hasil analisis data kuantitatif diperoleh nilai rata-rata stigma 29,09 mengalami penurunan sesudah dilakukan intervensi program edukasi berbasis keluarga menjadi rata-rata 17.82 dengan ρ Value = 0,001. Kesimpulan : Stigma di masyarakat terbagi menjadi stigma negatif dan positif. Stigma negatif dapat berdampak pada hubungan interaksi dalam masyarakat. Program Edukasi berbasis keluarga efektif dalam menurunkan stigma masyarakat tentang penyakit kusta terbukti efektif dan dapat digunakan oleh tenaga kesehatan dan kader desa dalam mengedukasi masyarakat. Kata Kunci : Kusta; Stigma masyarakat; Persepsi; Edukasi berbasis keluarga Background: Leprosy is a disease that hugely impacts both sufferers and the surrounding community. Objective: This research aims to explore the public's perception (stigma) towards leprosy—method: Mixed method design: multistage. The research began with collecting qualitative data, namely through in-depth interviews. Then it continued with the development of educational programs and experimental testing of academic programs to improve negative stigma in society. This research was conducted in Sumompo Village, Ward 3, Kec. Tuminting. There were 14 participants in the interview and 32 participants in the experimental stage. Qualitative data is analyzed semantically while quantitative data is analyzed comparatively descriptively. Results: Qualitative data showed that there were 2 themes: negative stigma and positive stigma. The results of quantitative data analysis showed that the average stigma value was 29.09, which decreased after the family-based educational program intervention to an average of 17.82 with ρ value = 0.001. Conclusion: Stigma in society is divided into negative and positive stigma. Negative stigma can have an impact on interactions in society. Family-based education programs are effective in reducing community stigma about leprosy and have been proven effective and can be used by health workers and village cadres to educate the community. Keywords: Leprosy; Community stigma; Perception; Family-based education]]>
