Health education: an approach to the concepts of elementary students about leprosy

Abstract

Leprosy is an infectious disease that offers treatment and healing. However, the scarcity of information can lead to late diagnosis, the physical disability and social exclusion. The present study aimed to approach the concepts of elementary students of a municipal school in the city of Imperatriz - MA about the leprosy. It is a cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative approach. Thus, we investigated 206 elementary school students in the period July-October 2011. As an instrument of data collection used a structured interview guide beforehand where were investigated sociodemographic variables and aspects of knowledge about the disease.  It was observed that 50.5% of students surveyed are male and most of them are enrolled in the 6^th year and has an average age of 13 years. When asked if they know or have known someone with leprosy, 12.2% said yes, while 4.0 % say they have or have had cases of this disease in your own family. 50.5 % of students surveyed say they would not be friends of a person with leprosy. Students interviewed showed a lack of information relating to leprosy, sustaining prejudice regarding patients who have or have owned this disease. The findings highlight the need for health education activities. Therefore, conducting health education practices with these students will build the critical thinking and a new perception of the disease in order to minimize the prejudice.