Banca de DEFESA: JOANDERSON NUNES CARDOSO

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : JOANDERSON NUNES CARDOSO
DATE: 30/04/2025
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: Sala de Videoconferência da Faculdade de Medicina - UFCA (campus Barbalha)
TITLE:

CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESEARCH STRATEGY OF LEPROSY

KEY WORDS:

Leprosy; Therapy; Diagnosis; Psychic suffering.

PAGES: 114
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Medicina
SUMMARY:

Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by the etiological agent Mycobacterium
leprae. It is a contagious disease with a high infectivity rate, which facilitates its dissemination
among people. It affects the skin and peripheral nerves, and in more severe cases, lymph nodes
and bone marrow. Treatment interrupts the chain of transmission, as individuals no longer
transmit the disease once treatment begins. In this context, a clinical and epidemiological
investigation was conducted involving patients diagnosed with leprosy, referred by Primary Care
or arriving spontaneously, and subsequently treated at a Dermatological Center located in the
state of Ceará, Brazil. This descriptive, documental, and correlational cross-sectional study

applied both quantitative and qualitative approaches, based on data collected through semi-
structured questionnaires administered to participants during the study's data collection period.

The fieldwork occurred between July and December 2024 and January 2025, forming three
participant groups: the group already undergoing treatment (21 participants), the group
diagnosed during the research (7 participants), and the group of patients not diagnosed with
leprosy (89 participants), totaling 117 samples. The following tools were utilized for data
collection: (I) Sociodemographic Profile Questionnaire, (II) Leprosy Suspicion Questionnaire
(LSQ), (III) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and (IV) Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), in
addition to clinical records and laboratory test results when necessary. The completed
questionnaires were digitized into a database. Fisher's Exact Test and the Kruskal-Wallis Test
were used to verify possible associations between variables using R-Studio software version
4.3.2, adopting a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. To assess the reliability of the BAI and BDI
instruments, internal consistency was analyzed using Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient, with results
of Alpha 0.873 and 0.864, respectively. The "Excluded" group for leprosy accounted for the
highest number of participants (76.1%), followed by the "Treatment" group (17.9%) and the
"Diagnosed" group (6.0%). A significant association was observed between the data collection
sites and the groups, with the highest concentration at the Dermatology and Infectious Diseases
Center compared to the five neighborhoods. Regarding leprosy cases, male sex was statistically
significant, and most cases were reported among individuals identifying as mixed race. No
statistically significant association was found between marital status, religious beliefs, housing
conditions, and the groups of respondents, with a p-value of 0.05%. The majority of participants
had an income of up to three minimum wages and incomplete elementary education. The most
common symptoms reported by participants included numbness, tingling, numb patches on the
skin, and skin spots. Results highlight the presence of pathologies often confused with clinical
signs characteristic of leprosy. Most respondents had no history of previous illnesses, though 

hypertension was the most common condition among those who reported a medical history.
It is suggested that investments be made in screening campaigns, health education, and training
professionals for early diagnosis. The integration of public policies and health actions directed at
these populations can enhance effective leprosy control.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Interno - CLAUDIO GLEIDISTON LIMA DA SILVA
Interna - JACQUELINE COSMO ANDRADE PINHEIRO
Externa à Instituição - Janaína Farias Rebouças - ESTÁCIO FMJ
Presidente - MARIA DO SOCORRO VIEIRA DOS SANTOS