TY - JOUR
T1 - Key sources of strength and resilience for persons receiving services for Hansen's disease (leprosy) in Porto Velho, Brazil
T2 - What can we learn for service development?
AU - Van'T Noordende, Anna T.
AU - Da Silva Pereira, Zoica Bakirtzief
AU - Kuipers, Pim
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
PY - 2021/11/1
Y1 - 2021/11/1
N2 - Background: Individuals affected by Hansen's disease (leprosy) often experience stigma and discrimination. Greater psychosocial resilience may enable people to deal with such discrimination. This study aimed to explore sources of strength and resilience for individuals affected by Hansen's disease in Brazil. Methods: We used a cross-sectional study design with a qualitative approach. Semistructured focus groups were conducted. Analysis comprised thematic categorisation of transcripts. Results: Thirty-one participants were included: 23 individuals affected by Hansen's disease and 8 healthcare providers. We found that while a few individuals affected were provided with formal psychological support in the early phases of their treatment, many noted the importance of providing such support at this time. Most participants described relationships with and social support from family members, friends and with others affected by Hansen's disease as their primary source of resilience. A key context for building resilience was through the peer-level sharing and engagement experienced in self-care and support groups. Participants also emphasised the importance of providing appropriate information about Hansen's disease and the importance of beliefs and spirituality. Conclusions: Hansen's disease services should seek to build resilience in early treatment through counselling and during treatment and beyond by having people affected getting together. Across both settings supporting family and social relationships, providing accurate information and acknowledging spiritual beliefs are important.
AB - Background: Individuals affected by Hansen's disease (leprosy) often experience stigma and discrimination. Greater psychosocial resilience may enable people to deal with such discrimination. This study aimed to explore sources of strength and resilience for individuals affected by Hansen's disease in Brazil. Methods: We used a cross-sectional study design with a qualitative approach. Semistructured focus groups were conducted. Analysis comprised thematic categorisation of transcripts. Results: Thirty-one participants were included: 23 individuals affected by Hansen's disease and 8 healthcare providers. We found that while a few individuals affected were provided with formal psychological support in the early phases of their treatment, many noted the importance of providing such support at this time. Most participants described relationships with and social support from family members, friends and with others affected by Hansen's disease as their primary source of resilience. A key context for building resilience was through the peer-level sharing and engagement experienced in self-care and support groups. Participants also emphasised the importance of providing appropriate information about Hansen's disease and the importance of beliefs and spirituality. Conclusions: Hansen's disease services should seek to build resilience in early treatment through counselling and during treatment and beyond by having people affected getting together. Across both settings supporting family and social relationships, providing accurate information and acknowledging spiritual beliefs are important.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105724604&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/inthealth/ihab001
DO - 10.1093/inthealth/ihab001
M3 - Article
C2 - 33547894
AN - SCOPUS:85105724604
VL - 13
SP - 527
EP - 535
JO - International Health
JF - International Health
SN - 1876-3413
IS - 6
ER -