01419nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001900059653001300078653001700091653001200108653002100120100001700141700001700158245009700175856005500272300001400327490000700341050003600348520081700384       2012                            d  c2012 Apr-Jun10aWomen's Health10aNursing.10aNursing Care10aleprosy10aFull text online1 aPalmeira I P1 aFerreira M A00a" The body I was and the body I am": conceptions of women with alterations caused by leprosy  uhttp://www.scielo.br/pdf/tce/v21n2/en_a16v21n2.pdf  a379–3860 v21  aPALMEIRA 2012/ PALMEIRA 2012por3 a<p>The aim was to understand the conceptions of women about the female body with alterations caused by leprosy. In this qualitative and descriptive study, the concepts of the theory of representations were applied. Participants were 43 women with bodily changes caused by leprosy, who regularly attended a referral unit specialized in health dermatology. Individual semistructured interviews were held and thematic content analysis was used. The results show body conceptions related to health (past) and disease (present), showing the strength of esthetics and body functionality, influencing these women's participation and social integration. In conclusion, these women's body conceptions explain their self-care practices, and knowing them helps to ensure that nursing can better meet their care needs.</p>