Enfrentamento da tuberculose pelos doentes privados de liberdade

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis persists as a serious public health problem in prisons around the world. In the prison environment, the daily life of the patient is marked by insecurities, stigmas, fears and limitations imposed by the situation of incarceration that happens in the middle of a hostile and violent scenario. Therefore, to deal with the disease in this scenario, it is indispensable to know the singularities of patients, the influence of interpersonal relationships and the health needs during the process of coping with tuberculosis.Objective: To understand the experience of the patients deprived of liberty in the process of coping with tuberculosis.Methods: Exploratory descriptive study with a qualitative approach, developed in a male penitentiary complex, located in the municipality of João Pessoa, capital of the State of Paraíba, Brazil, and carried out in October 2017. The census sample included all 16 inmates who were among the fourth and the sixth month of anti-tuberculosis treatment. The data collection in the penitentiary unit was through a recorded audio interview and analyzed through the dialectical hermeneutic approach. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the State University of Paraíba under the number: 52879215.4.0000.5187.Results:To be sick of tuberculosis in prisons dramatically changes the daily life of the patient and the relationship with the peers, the patient tends to be segregated from the social environment due to the stigma and fear that his contacts have to be infected, such situation has a negative influence on the confrontation of the disease and causes great emotional suffering for the patient.Moreover, the diagnosis arouses negative feelings such as sadness, anguish and fear of death, especially due to limitations of the confinement determined by the weaknesses of the physical structure, such as crowded, moist and poorly ventilated cells, nutritional deficiencies and difficulties in accessing health services.On the other hand, suffering is softened by religious belief, the will to live and support of cellmates and health professionals, factors that help the patient to face the treatment. Health information on tuberculosis has been highlighted as a positive aspect in achieving treatment, because when patients and their peers are elucidated about tuberculosis’s stigmas, prejudices are overcome, and the interpersonal relationship is restored.In addition, it was possible to identify that the interaction with health professionals was more related to medication delivery, therefore some patients were satisfied with the care provided, and others were dissatisfied due to the weak bond and the health needs.Conclusion:To assist patients in the confrontation of tuberculosis, a more humane and centralized care of each individual's needs and singularities should be considered.