The importance of primary care in the management and eradication of leprosy: an integrative review

Abstract

Introduction: Leprosy is a disease that manifests itself as a health problem and Primary Health Care (PHC) services play a key role in reducing the burden of the disease. The objective of this study is to identify in the scientific literature the importance of Primary Care in the control of leprosy and to analyze the factors that influence this process. Materials and methods: This is an integrative review study that was designed based on the criteria established in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guide. The survey of articles was carried out in the following databases: Google Scholar, Pubmed/MEDLINE, LILACS And Scielo. In the initial search, 43 articles were found. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria and reading in full, 16 scientific articles were selected, published between 2010 and 2021. Results: In general, the works portray the Leprosy Control Actions (ACH) carried out by APS, worth mentioning that regardless of the research methodology, when PHC performs ACH effectively, it has an important impact on disease control, otherwise it has a negative impact. Conclusion: The decentralization of ACH to the scope of PHC has imposed a reorientation of the practice of the Family Health Strategy (ESF), this strengthens the disease control policy, by facilitating access to diagnosis and treatment and especially the training of professionals. bond with the patient, which improves adherence to treatment and disease monitoring.