Women and leprosy: interferences and experiences

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Qualitative Health Research
• Women's Health Studies

Background:

• Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease, presents unique challenges for women, often exacerbating existing societal vulnerabilities.
• Understanding the lived experiences of women with leprosy is crucial for developing effective and sensitive healthcare interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the interferences of leprosy in women's lives.
• To investigate how women with leprosy reinvent themselves and cope with the disease.
• To understand the intersection of gender, societal structures, and chronic illness.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative, descriptive study utilizing a cartographic method approach.
• Data collection involved in-depth interviews and logbooks with nine women affected by leprosy.
• Analysis incorporated concepts from schizoanalysis to interpret the data.

Main Results:

• Women with leprosy experience significant concerns, anxieties, and worries related to the disease's effects.
• Key issues include bodily transformations, financial instability due to comorbidities, and challenges in accessing rights.
• The study highlights the profound impact of leprosy on women's physical, financial, and social well-being.

Conclusions:

• The female experience of leprosy is intertwined with the challenges of living in a patriarchal society.
• Recognizing women's individual strengths and contexts is vital for affirming life and promoting well-being.
• Care for women with leprosy must acknowledge their singularities and societal positioning.