PERCEPTION OF LEPROSY PATIENTS IN A REFERRAL INSTITUTION

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which affects the skin and peripheral nerves, still marked by strong social stigma. Prejudice and historical exclusion, such as compulsory isolation, aggravate psychological impacts, such as anxiety, low self-esteem, and mental suffering. This study seeks to understand the perception of patients with leprosy in the context of mental health and is motivated by questions related to the mental health of people with leprosy: "Does the diagnosis have psychological impacts?". This is a qualitative study developed in a reference institution for the treatment of leprosy. Participants were 27 patients who answered an interview through a questionnaire, using a partial sample of 9 interviews. The study showed ages between 40 and 78 years, with the majority female sex in the group (55.56%), self-declared black (66.67%) and brown (33.33%), single (44%) and illiterate (44%). The results of this study reveal important issues related to the experience of patients during diagnosis, treatment and post-discharge for follow-up of sequelae, as it indicates that even though it is a disease with available treatment and the possibility of cure, these people can still live with pain, suffer problems of low self-esteem, shame, fears, concerns that bring impacts that transform their personal daily life, social and family.