As implicações da hanseníase nas atividades laborais de trabalhadores rurais acompanhados no Centro de Referência do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Abstract

Leprosy, infectious chronic disease, still remains a public health problem in the country. It has a high morbidity potential due to its characteristic neural impairment, which is likely to have devastating disabling power if not early diagnosed and opportune treated. By achieving a high proportion of people in the economically active age group can lead to decreased work capacity with deleterious effects to the affected individuals´ and their families´ quality of life. Occupations requiring great physical effort, as the rural work, can lead or worsen these characteristics. This study has aimed to describe and analyze the leprosy implications on the labor activities of rural workers monitored at the Minas Gerais Federal University Clinics Hospital Dermatology Services. This is a qualitative study with theoretical perspective in the Leprosy Clinics and in the Occupational Health field. Semi-structured interviews, secondary data from , information system of disease notification and medical reports were used for data collection. The data collected by the interviews was submitted on the content analysis providing the categories: rural work, leprosy, disability and work, social security and facing the new reality. Almost all respondents reported some impairment in their work activities caused by muscle weakness, malaise, dizziness, numbness in the hands and / or feet; as well as the association of curing the disease concept with the ability to return to work. The adverse effects of medications in the treatment of lepra reactions, stigma and harmful environmental effects were identified as determinants for incapacity. It was evident that there was delay in the search for treatment, as the disease symptoms were already compromising the labor activities at the time of diagnosis; however, the cure was related to the return of the capacity to work. Drug adverse reactions, the stigma and the environment harmful effects were pointed as labor disability determinants. It was observed that interviews are not satisfied with the health medical care service and the social security medical results. The lack of knowledge about the disease is still found among the population, the health professionals and the social security. These findings indicate a gap to be filled in the integral assistance to the patients affected by Hansen´s disease , the worker´s health actions, to be implemented and strengthened in every level of SUS attention.