Social stigma and leprosy: identifying knowledge as a health education strategy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/2236-6407.2023.v14.48115Keywords:
leprosy, stigma, health education, knowledgeAbstract
Leprosy is marked by social and cultural factors that have contributed to stigmatization. This study sought to identify knowledge about the disease, by means of a Likert-type instrument. The results showed (N = 112) that transmission was the most controversial topic, since 51.8% of the participants declared they knew the means of transmission; at the same time 59.4% signaled that transmission happens through skin contact. The study also shows the need for knowledge about the treatment and symptoms of the disease, since 33% declared they knew the treatment; and 56.3% declared they knew little about the symptoms. The participants demonstrate not to deposit stigmatization of the body when observing skin lesions, as well as not associating religious beliefs to a justification of the manifestation of the disease or as a cure resource. This work points to the importance of knowledge as a health education strategy to demystify socially constructed stigma.
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