Leprosy: the meaning of the disease for women who carry it

Abstract

Aim: to analyze the meaning of leprosy for 28 women who were diagnosed with this disease and under medical supervision in an infectology service located in Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. Method: the data were collected through individual interviews and its processing happened in virtue of content analysis technique. Results: the verbal reports revealed that the disease caused changes in daily life in familiar, professional and economic aspects. The disease also affected the body image that women had about themselves, which indicated that prejudice is still present in social and familial relations. Multidrug therapy was seen as something positive, but it caused much discomfort and some women did not feel really cured at the end of the treatment. Conclusion: Leprosy affects the lives of women in different aspects and economically disadvantaged people are more vulnerable to the disease.