Estigma da hanseníase e empoderamento das pessoas acometidas no município de Floriano-PI

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that primarily affects peripheral nerves and skin, even organs and systems that can lead to neurological impairment and disability. Because it was a millennial disease, it was linked to the idea of divine punishment and impurity due to disobedience. It is one of the main neglected diseases in Brazil permeated by stigma, discrimination and prejudice that can interfere directly in the social life, work, religious activities, interpersonal relations besides causing increase of the emotional stress and suffering for the person affected by the disease. The objective of this study is to analyze the stigma of leprosy and the empowerment of people affected in Floriano-Piauí, from 2008 to 2017. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study with primary data to be carried out from the application of three instruments: a demographic and clinical socioeconomic questionnaire, the stigma scales - EMIC Stigma Scale and empowerment. Sociodemographic, clinical and operational data were collected. Of the 549 new cases of leprosy diagnosed, 232 cases were treated in Floriano. Prevalence of males, brown, with the age group of 61 to 80 years, married, economically active, with monthly income less than 1 salary, multibacillary cases. The score of the EMIC scale ranged from 0 to 36 points with an average of 15,5 and the scale score ranged from 51 to 82 points with a mean of 61,1. The EMIC scale was associated with the operational classification (p = 0.013), physical disability (p = 0.007), recurrence (p = 0.039), leprosy reaction (p = 0.018) and the fact that it revealed the diagnosis in the extrafamilial space (p = 0.035). The scale of empowerment was associated with individual monthly income (p = 0.036) and with physical disability (p = 0.038). Similarly, positive and significant correlations were found between the empowerment score and the study years (r = 0.174, p= 0.008), as well as for individual income (r = 0.188, p = 0.004). The results of this research showed that these scales can be used in health services as an instrument to facilitate the measurement of perceived stigma and the empowerment of leprosy cases. These results were able to show us that multibacillary cases, with disabilities, with leprosy reactions and relapses were more likely to suffer stigma. Individuals with higher individual incomes and no disability were also more likely to be empowered. Therefore, these instruments can serve as a subsidy for the development of strategies for the prevention and reduction of leprosy