PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT! PERCEPTION OF STUDENTS OF FUNDAMENTAL AND MEDIUM EDUCATION ON LEPROSY IN HYPEREDEMIC AREA OF MARANHÃO, BRAZIL

Maranhão is one of the Brazilian states with the highest prevalence and new cases of leprosy, being therefore a hyperendemic state. Being a problem that can be aided with help of the educational mechanisms of health in classroom that become important to promote the participation of students in the knowledge process, discussion about the disease and contribute to its prevention and early diagnosis. In this context, the present study aimed to present the importance and the need to approach the themes related to health and daily life of students, as well as make a survey of the knowledge they bring to the classroom about leprosy theme. Two schools were analyzed, one from the state network and one from the private network, with application of questionnaires and subsequent lectures on the subject for clarification and doubts. The results obtained confirmed that students have low scientific knowledge about leprosy. In relation to the presence of the subject prejudice, we obtained relatively high indexes. Referring to advertising campaigns they were considered limited, for only revealing information about the initial symptoms of the disease, being able to treat aspects of prophylaxis, contagion, treatment and physical incapacities related directly to the disease.