Factors associated with non-adherence to polychemotherapy treatment for leprosy.
OBJECTIVES: to identify factors associated with non-adherence to polychemotherapy treatment for leprosy.
METHODS: a cross-sectional study, carried out with cases of abandonment of leprosy treatment in the municipality of Palmas-TO. The cases were identified from the Notification System for Notifiable Diseases, and a questionnaire was subsequently applied.
RESULTS: dropout rates for 2017 and 2018 were 8.3% and 3.12%, respectively. Forty people participated in the study: the majority were women (57.5%), with an average age of 48.2 years, 75% were black/brown, 50% had completed/incomplete elementary education, and 52.5% were retired/unemployed. Factors associated with adherence to leprosy treatment were lack of improvement in symptoms and having the diagnosis ruled out by another physician/not believing they had leprosy.
CONCLUSIONS: the results point to the difficulty in accepting leprosy by cases and the importance of healthcare professionals in health education and adequate leprosy diagnosis.
Spanish Abstract
Objetivos: identificar factores asociados a la no adherencia al tratamiento poliquimioterapéutico para la lepra.
Métodos: estudio transversal, realizado con casos de abandono del tratamiento de la lepra en el municipio de Palmas-TO. Los casos fueron identificados a partir del Sistema de Notificação de Enfermedades de Notificação Obligatoria y posteriormente se aplicó un cuestionario.
Resultados: las tasas de deseração para los años 2017 y 2018 fueron de 8,3% y 3,12%, respectivamente. Participaron en el estudio cuarenta personas: la mayoría eran mujeres (57,5%), con una edad media de 48,2 años, el 75% eran de raza negra/mestizas, el 50% tenía educação primaria completa/incompleta y el 52,5% estaban jubilados/desempleados. Los factores asociados con la adherencia al tratamiento de la lepra fueron la falta de mejoría de los síntomas y el hecho de que otro médico descartara el diagnóstico o no creyera que se tenía la enfermedad.
Conclusiones: los resultados apuntan a la dificultad en la aceptação de la enfermedad por casos y la importancia de los profesionales de la salud en la educação para la salud y el diagnóstico adecuado de la enfermedad.