O conhecimento de enfermeiros da atenção primária sobre o controle da tuberculose em idosos.

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which has had its epidemiological chain and treatment known for years, but still persists as a public health problem in several countries. Following the aging of the world population, cases of tuberculosis in Brazil have been reaching the elderly population. The objective of the study was to analyze the knowledge of nurses, Primary Care, about the control of tuberculosis in the elderly This is an exploratory type research with a qualitative approach in the Municipalities of Cuité and Bananeiras. Empirical data were analyzed using the Content Analysis technique. The protocol number of the Certificate of Presentation for Ethical Appreciation was 63863017.0.0000.5182. The prerogatives of Resolution Nº. 466/2012. In the sociodemographic aspects it was evidenced that the majority of the nursing professionals of Cuité and Bananeiras, are young and of the sex. Although most of the nurses reported a lack of experience in the care of the elderly with TB, important issues related to the recognition of disease control measures were identified. Educational measures were recognized, despite the practical invisibility in the TB scenario. Concerning limitations, lack of capacity building and social stigma were the main obstacles to TB control. Regarding the potentialities, health education and the link with the community were the main actions for the control of TB in Primary Care. Nursing in Primary Care finds a broad panorama of action in the control of tuberculosis, not only the elderly population, but the population in general. When assessing the knowledge of nursing professionals regarding the control of tuberculosis in the elderly, it was evidenced that the susceptibility, morbidity and mortality of this group has not been known to the point of mobilizing interventions aimed at containing this disease.