Itinerários terapêuticos de pessoas com hanseníase: reflexões acerca das perspectivas de usuários e profissionais de saúde no estado do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

This monograph sought to analyze the therapeutic paths of people diagnosed with Hansen’s disease, living in the northwest region of the state of Rio de Janeiro. The empirical material collected also includes brief comparisons with health professionals who care for users with Hansen’s disease. This work is part of the broader institutional research “Therapeutic itineraries of users diagnosed with Hansen’s disease: an analysis of access to health services in the state of Rio de Janeiro”, from the Rio de Janeiro State Department of Health. The general objective was to apprehend the difficulties of access to diagnosis and treatment in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). There were six identified semi-structured, analyzed from the socio-anthropological approach that sought to situate the Hansen’s disease in the perspective of Public Health, especially in the Social and Human Sciences. Theoretical and methodological contributions related to the therapeutic treatments of users of the Unified Health System also inspired the discussion of the data. The results were organized based on the identification of four themes: 1) between suspicion and diagnosis; 2) from illness to treatment; 3) living and working conditions; 4) stigma, discrimination, lack of knowledge. It was considered that, from the professional experience in the state management of Hansen’s disease, from the literature approached and from the reports of users and health professionals, it was possible to extract considerations regarding the practice of health care, in the sense of expanding the look and vision criticism regarding the social issues involved in coping Hansen’s disease.