01500nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260000900042653002300051653001500074653002100089653002200110653002800132653001100160653001900171653001200190653002100202100002200223700001800245700002200263245007900285300001100364490000700375520083800382022001401220       1982                            d  c198210aAttitude to Health10aCosta Rica10aFoster Home Care10aHealth Facilities10aHealth Facility Closure10aHumans10aLeper Colonies10aleprosy10aSocial Isolation1 aHidalgo Hidalgo H1 aCastro Coto A1 aRivera Varela R M00a[Foster homes in Costa Rica. An alternative in the closure of leprosaria].  a385-900 v103 a<p>The actual knowledge about leprosy and its therapy determines it to be regarded and treated as any other disease. Leprosaria, dedicated to segregation and isolation the patient are not needed anymore. Accordingly, the only leprosarium that existed in Costa Rica, the "Sanatorio Nacional de las Mercedes", was closed on March 30, 1979. We are providing a historical account of the stages in the struggle against leprosy leading to the closure of the Sanatorio, as well as the main reasons supporting the inadequacy of having such an institution. We explain the meaning and advantages of the foster homes, where the last 30 remaining patients were replaced, thus facilitating the closure of the Sanatorio. Finally, three years later, we discuss the most significant results concerning the Hansen's disease control in Costa Rica.</p>  a0210-5187