Table 1 Overview of the articles included in this review

Weigel and Armijos [19]

The traditional and conventional medical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Ecuador

Ecuador

529 adults (336 female, 193 male) from 43 hamlets

In-depth interviews supplemented with questionnaires

To explore the knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment held by an endemic population in Ecuador

Carillo-Bonilla et al. [29]

Study of knowledge, attitude, and practices related to leishmaniasis: evidence of government neglect in the Colombian Darién

Colombia

252 people, 130 men and 122 women, all over the age of 15

Qualitative study through ethnography and data collection, from the perspective of Knowledge, practices and attitudes (KAP)

To understand the aspects of cutaneous leishmaniasis in populations in Colombia through studies of knowledge, practices and attitude

Bennis et al. [30]

Psychosocial impact of scars due to cutaneous leishmaniasis on high school students in Errachidia province, Morocco

Morocco

Boarding school children, ages 18.1 ± 2.3 for boys and 17.2 ± 1.6 for girls

Self-administered survey with open-ended questions on the psychosocial effect of scars

To describe the psychosocial impact of CL on adolescents in Morocco’s major endemic areas

Bennis et al. [31]

“The mosquitoes that destroy your face”: Social impact of cutaneous leishmaniasis in South-eastern Morocco, A qualitative study

Morocco

11 men, 29 women

Focus group

To document the psychosocial burden of CL in rural communities in Southeastern Morocco

Stewart and Brieger [32]

Community views on cutaneous leishmaniasis in Istalif, Afghanistan: Implications for treatment and prevention

Afghanistan

Unknown number of respondents. Low-medium economic and education levels

Focus groups of between 6 and 9 individuals

To investigate illness recognition and treatment seeking behaviour, beliefs about etiology and transmission of the disease, and views of prevention and protection among the population of Istalif

Ramdas [33]

Cruel disease, cruel medicine: Self-treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with harmful chemical substances in Suriname

Suriname

205 people at a Dermatology service (183 male, 22 female); 285 people from hinterland villages

Interviews with structured questionnaires, lasting between 30 min and 1 hour

To encourage health policy makers and health professionals to carefully initiate, provide and evaluate CL treatment and prevention programs

Eid et al. [34]

Leishmaniasis patients’ pilgrimage to access healthcare in rural Bolivia: A qualitative study using human rights to health approach

Bolivia

14 participants, 11 male and 3 female, aged 17–50. One case of a 1 year old child where the mother was interviewed

In-depth interviews lasting between 30 and 45 minutes

To explore the experiences of patients with leishmaniasis and the challenges faced when searching for diagnosis and treatment in Bolivia using a human rights approach

Erber et al. [35]

Patients’ preferences of cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment outcomes: Findings from an international qualitative study

Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Iran, Morocco, Peru, Tunisia

Males and females, median age 35

Semi-structured in-depth interviews

To assess patient-preferred outcomes for CL

Dobles-Ulloa and Perriard [36]

Representation, attitudes and practices related to cutaneous leishmaniasis in people from Acosta, Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Individuals from both case and control households

48 open interviews, lasting an average of 45 min

To understand the representations, attitudes and practices about tegumentary leishmaniasis in the province of Acosta Catón de San José (Costa Rica), from the point of view of the population affected or at risk of being affected

Ramdas [37]

Nuancing stigma through ethnography: The case of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Suriname

Suriname

205 people at a Dermatology service (183 male, 22 female, 81% age 20–49, 77% of whom lived in the capital city or surrounding districts) and 321 from hinterland villages (188 men, 133 females from Maroon and Indigenous communities)

Short structured interviews, 30 min - 1 hour duration

To establish perceptions and explanations for health seeking behaviour and to determine whether stigma around CL exists within Suriname

da Silva and Lopes [38]

American tegumentary leishmaniasis in the perspective of who lives it

Brazil

Eight women who presented sequelae due to CL lesions, and who were being treated at a public health institution

Interviews with a phenomenological approach

To understand the perception of the body of the women affected by cutaneous leishmaniasis

Hamdam [39]

Why does leishmaniasis result in life-long scars for women in Afghanistan?

Afghanistan

Male and female healthcare providers within the clinics

Focus groups and in-depth interviews

To explore the reasons behind the late presentation of female patients with leishmaniasis to the (leishmaniasis) clinic within the NMLCP of the Ministry of Public Health

Reithinger et al. [40]

Social impact of leishmaniasis, Afghanistan

Afghanistan

For the survey: the most senior, available family member and focus groups

252 individuals during the house-to-house survey, 108 women across the focus groups

To establish the knowledge of CL held by residents of Kabul, Afghanistan