Percepção do profissional de enfermagem acerca da adesão ao tratamento da hanseníase.

Abstract

Leprosy is an infectious, chronic disease with a high incapacitating potential, which has Mycobacterium leprae as the etiological agent. Although the data show that the numbers of cases have reduced, it is still considered a public health problem, since its control is a challenge to be faced, not only in Brazil, which can be the result of a late diagnosis and consequently is treated late, or not performed correctly. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception of the nursing professional of the Family Health Strategy regarding the adherence to the treatment of leprosy in the municipality of Cajazeiras-PB. This is an exploratory, descriptive field study with a qualitative approach. This study was carried out in January and February at the Family Health Units of the municipality of Cajazeiras, which currently has a total of 23 units, of which 17 are in the urban area and 6 in the rural area. The sample was composed of 13 nurses working in the urban area of the research municipality, who had been linked to the unit for at least 6 months. The data were obtained through a semi-structured interview, through a script prepared by the authors, containing objective and subjective questions, which were surveyed by the participant researcher, using a portable recorder. The research continued to respect the ethical and legal aspects of Resolution 466/12. It was possible to identify that the difficulties encountered in the accomplishment of the treatment are: the patient's non-acceptance, the duration of treatment, the occurrence of medication and hansen reactions and the prejudice itself. The irregularities in the treatment by the patients reported by the nurses were: interruption or abandonment of treatment, use of alcohol and other drugs and ignorance of the disease. As for the strategies used by the professionals for a better adhesion, they reported that they perform: conversation wheels, active search, clarification and awareness. This study can contribute to professionals and municipal management know the factors that lead to abandonment or difficulty of adherence and from this knowledge create strategies to facilitate treatment, reducing the number of people infected and consequently the occurrence of physical disabilities.