01876nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001653001200042653002100054653002400075100001600099700001600115700001700131700001700148700001800165700001700183245005600200856007700256300001000333490000700343050001700350520125300367022001401620       2011                            d10aleprosy10aHealth Education10aPromotion of health1 aAndrade C G1 aCosta I C P1 aFreire M E M1 aSantos K F O1 aGouveia E M L1 aClaudino H G00a[Leprosy: Understanding of Community Health Agents]  uhttp://periodicos.ufpb.br/ojs2/index.php/rbcs/article/viewFile/9914/5810  a17-240 v15  aANDRADE 20113 aObjectives: To verify how the Community Health Workers (CHWs) understand leprosy and to propose educative actions to the strengthening of that understanding. 

Method: This is a descriptive, qualitative and quantitative study that followed the ethical principles of the 196/96 Resolution. The sample
consisted of 14 Community Health Workers (CHWs) who work in Family Health Units in the city of Guarabira (PB). Data were collect between March and April 2010, through a structured instrument. Qualitative analysis was done through technique of collective subject discourse and quantitative
data were analyzed from the absolute numbers and percentages. 

Results: The study has proved that CHWs have a limited understanding in relation to the signs and symptoms of the pathology, that the process of qualification is disjointed, although they have conscience of the possibility of healing
and of the types of medication for each clinical form of the disease. 

Conclusion: Based on the answers provided, it is concluded that inadequate understanding of health professionals in relation to leprosy makes deficient the actions for promotion, protection and recovery of the disease, what affects the quality of life of the supported population.  a1415-2177