Abstract: ObjectiveTo determine the rehabilitation awareness and needs in patients with disability due to leprosy.Methods4353 patients in 23 fields of 7 provinces were surveyed by interview and questionnaire.Results80% of patients knew general knowledge of disability prevention and rehabilitation, and believed that the self-care could prevent disability; but they seldom carried out the daily self-care practice.90% of patients lacked awareness in early manifestation of leprosy, treatment of the disease, basic cause of disability, and the way to prevent such as plantar ulcers. For needs of rehabilitation education, teaching by medical staff(86%), booklet(81%), video tape(70%) and recording(52%) had been selected.ConclusionThe awareness of rehabilitation and the practice must be combined together. Rehabilitation education should be carried out in advance systemically through different ways.

Key words: leprosy disability, rehabilitation awareness, rehabilitation need