Hansen’s disease knowledge among healthcare professionals working for the Estratégia Saúde da Família in the Sistema Único de Saúde, Vespasiano, MG, Brazil Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

Introduction: Hansen’s disease, a neglected tropical disease, is commonly found in Brazil with reports upwards of 18,318 per year. A variety of reports have found that healthcare providers’ knowledge of Hansen’s disease is very limited, and only four of these have been conducted in Brazil.

Objective: To analyze the knowledge level of healthcare workers of the Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF), in Vespasiano, MG, Brazil, about Hansen’s disease.

Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional study, with an interview survey as the data collection mechanism, which was divided into a baseline knowledge section, and a clinical section. A total of 194 health workers were interviewed, 22 physicians, 17 nurses, 102 community health workers, 36 nurse technicians, and 17 other health professionals. For analysis, linear correlation, Pearson’s correlation, and Student’s t-tests, and descriptive statistics were used. Tables and graphs were utilized to display findings.

Results: It was found that most health workers had little knowledge of Hansen’s disease diagnosis processes, treatment methods, transmission routes, and clinical presentations and held many of the popular Hansen’s misconceptions. Physicians received the highest score averages for the baseline (65% of 14 points) and clinical sections (47.7% of 35 points). No correlation was found between sex and knowledge scores, or between who had previously received training and knowledge scores. Some correlation was found between profession and who received training, with a p-value of 0.009, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis.

Conclusions: These gaps can result in mis- and underdiagnosis of the disease, inadequate treatment, and continued prevalence of Hansen’s in communities. It is recommended that the Brazilian government invest in Hansen’s disease educational programs to address the gaps. 

Table of Contents

Table of contents

Chapter 1....................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction................................................................................................................................................1

Stigma.........................................................................................................................................................3

Hansen’s disease in Brazil.............................................................................................................................3

Brazilian healthcare system..........................................................................................................................4

Chapter 2 ....................................................................................................................................................5

Literature review..........................................................................................................................................5

Purpose ......................................................................................................................................................5

Methods......................................................................................................................................................5

Results....................................................................................................................................................... 5

Discussion ..................................................................................................................................................9

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................11

Chapter 3...................................................................................................................................................12

Methods.....................................................................................................................................................12

Introduction...............................................................................................................................................12

Population and sample ...............................................................................................................................12

Research design .........................................................................................................................................13

Procedures.................................................................................................................................................13

Instruments...............................................................................................................................................13

Data analysis .............................................................................................................................................14

Ethical considerations ................................................................................................................................15

Results.......................................................................................................................................................16

1.Demographics .........................................................................................................................................16

2.Knowledge scores ....................................................................................................................................17

3.Numerical correlation..............................................................................................................................25

4.Self-identified knowledge perceptions....................................................................................................…27

5. Training.................................................................................................................................................27

Chapter 4 ..................................................................................................................................................29

Discussion ….............................................................................................................................................29

Public health implications..........................................................................................................................31

Recommendations.....................................................................................................................................32 Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................33

Appendix A..............................................................................................................................................34

Survey questions used for analysis.............................................................................................................34

Appendix b..............................................................................................................................................38

Appendix c..............................................................................................................................................39

References..............................................................................................................................................41

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Hubert Department of Global Health
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Education Health Sciences, Public Health
Palabra Clave	Hansen's disease Brazil
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Jessica Fairley MD, MPH, Emory University

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