"A mancha branca" - enfermeiras e suas representações sociais sobre a hansení­ase

Abstract

Leprosy is a public health problem in Brazil. The aim of this study was to identify the social representations of leprosy. Descriptive-exploratory study of a qualitative approach in light of the Theory of Social Representations. Nine nurses from Primary Care participated in the study. Two thematic categories emerged: Meanings on leprosy and Leprosy elimination program: actions and limitations. It was identified that the participants represent leprosy from elements that portray the stigma and lack of knowledge about the disease. As representations about the actions, emerged elements that evidenced sporadic practice by the nurse in relation to the actions proposed by the Leprosy Elimination Program, the importance of the educational practice in health. About the limitations to the production of care emerged: the need for decentralization of services; the need to expand the training processes through permanent health education and the workload of the professional.