The fragility of care in patients with Hansen's disease in primary care.

Elaine Martins Pinto Cayres1; Amanda Regina Florencio do Nascimento2; João Vitor dos Santos Benjamin3; Francisca Eduarda Ferreira Souza4; Victor Guilherme Pereira5; Elisiel Martins De Sousa⁶.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is caused by the intracellular parasite Mycobacterium leprae. It is a pathology that has affected humans for more than 4,000 years and is stigmatized to this day. In view of this, in 2005, the World Health Organization declared that leprosy had been eliminated as a global public health problem. However, new cases are still seen today, with an average of 250,000 new patients reported every year. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the fragility of care for leprosy patients in primary care. METHODOLOGY: This is an integrative literature review carried out in August 2023, using an exploratory and descriptive methodology (PEREIRA, et al., 2018). It includes stages such as establishing the theme and criteria for selecting the sources to be used, data analysis, selection of thematic material, interpretation of results and presentation of the relevant aspects obtained from the review. Initially, studies were searched in the electronic databases: Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (Lilacs) and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline). Initially, the following descriptors were selected: “Leprosy” OR “lepra” OR “Leprosy”; “Primary Health Care” OR “Atención Primaria de Salud” OR “Primary Health Care”; “Acesso à Atenção Primária” OR “Acceso a Atención Primaria” OR “Access to Primary Care”, using the Boolean operator “AND”. RESULTS: It was possible to observe inequalities in access to health services, leading to late diagnosis and abandonment of treatment. In addition, the BHUs proved to lack the capacity to provide comprehensive care for patients with this disease, so that approximately 80% of the BHUs analyzed in the study lacked the materials and supplies needed to manage the disease. CONCLUSION: Important weaknesses were identified in guaranteeing access to diagnosis and treatment for people living with leprosy. More investment is needed in professional training and continuing education for professionals involved in leprosy management, so that they feel more secure in providing services to users of the program, with a direct impact on the quality of care provided.

Keywords: Access to Primary Care. Leprosy. Unified Health System.