CASTRO, Juliana Alves de.
Abstract:
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that affects nevi and is a major cause of neuritis and
disability. Is linked to social vulnerability, such as poverty, high concentration and human
misery. In addition, psychosocial causes damage such as prejudice, thus influencing non-
adherence to treatment by your carrier. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the
knowledge and learning needs of leprosy patients about the disease. This is a study of an
exploratory descriptive quantitative approach developed in the municipality of Cajazeiras
located in the hinterland of Paraiba. The sample consisted of 30 leprosy patients being treated
at the Family Health Units in the urban area of the municipality, that met the inclusion
criteria. The instrument used for data collection was a structured interview consisting of semi-
structured socio-demographic and turns to the study objectives. Data were analyzed
descriptively, with statistical percentage, where issues were analyzed and presented in graphs
and tables built in Microsoft Office Excel 2010. The data reveal that most of the employees
are male, aged predominantly between 31 and 43 years old, married, retired, elementary
education, with a family income of up to two minimum wages. Most have the paucibacillary
form, the indeterminate clinical form. According to the results focused on the objectives of
the study, it was observed that the knowledge about the disease by users is restricted and that
the provision of information by health professionals is insufficient. The majority of
respondents know that leprosy is curable , who did not know it before buying it, that lack of
treatment can cause deformities and could not answer how it is transmitted. The largest
number of participants reported having received information about the disease by the nurse at
the Health Unit, but the same was not provided for the rest of the family in most cases. Had
no interest in wanting to know any more information about the disease. Related to side effects
of medications 56.7 % of respondents knew them, citing the vast majority, dark urine. The
way to measure self -care held by most participants is not picking up weight. 80 % reported
not having participated in activities with others with the disease. The nurse emerges as an
important instrument to promote health education, turning so for health promotion activities
and not just healing. Being required to be technically prepared to recognize cases and treat
them early in order to avoid complications that are often irreversible. So are most necessary
actions for the educational practice of society, so that users remain more informed about their
disease and thus be able to self - care, aiming at a more effective treatment.
