Avaliação da prevalência de Síndrome Metabólica, Microalbuminúria e Risco Cardiovascular em mulheres com Síndrome dos Ovários Policísticos

Avaliar fatores de risco cardiovascular em mulheres brasileiras com síndrome dos ovários policísticos (SOP), através da utilização de múltiplos parâmetros, incluindo a determinação da prevalência de síndrome metabólica e seus componentes e pesquisa de microalbuminúria como marcador de um possível dano renal precoce nessas pacientes. Métodos: Foram avaliadas 102 mulheres de 20-34 anos de idade, com diagnóstico de SOP pelo Consenso de Rotterdam, tendo sido analisados parâmetros clínicos, antropométricos, bioquímicos e hormonais. Para diagnóstico de síndrome metabólica, foram adotados critérios do National Cholesterol Education Program s Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III). Para avaliação da microalbuminúria foi utilizada a relação albumina/creatinina (A/C), calculada a partir dos níveis de albumina e creatinina em amostra isolada de urina. Foram realizados testes estatísticos para avaliar associações e correlações entre variáveis, bem como comparação de médias ou medianas, adotando-se nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: A prevalência de síndrome metabólica foi de 28,4% (29 em 102 pacientes), estando associada ao aumento do índice de massa corporal (IMC). Quanto à análise da prevalência dos componentes individuais da síndrome metabólica, evidenciou-se: HDL-colesterol < 50 mg/dl em 69,6%, circunferência da cintura ≥ 88 cm em 57,9%, triglicerídeos ≥150 mg/dl em 31,7%, pressão arterial ≥130/85 mmHg em 18,6% e glicemia de jejum ≥110 mg/dl em 2,9%. Quando definida pelos limites convencionais para a relação A/C (3,5 35 mg/mmol), a microalbuminúria esteve presente em apenas três pacientes (3,3%). Entretanto, considerando diferentes limites de corte estabelecidos em recentes estudos que demonstraram aumento do risco cardiovascular associado a níveis muito baixos da relação A/C, a prevalência em mulheres com SOP foi alta, variando de 17,7 a 43,3% (para valores ≥ 0,58 e ≥ 0,37 mg/mmol, respectivamente). Mulheres com intolerância à glucose apresentaram nível significativamente mais elevado da relação A/C, quando comparadas às mulheres com normoglicemia. Os valores de microalbuminúria não apresentaram correlação significativa com IMC, níveis pressóricos, índices de sensibilidade insulínica ou perfil lipídico. Conclusões: Os dados evidenciam uma alta prevalência de síndrome metabólica e seus componentes individuais em mulheres brasileiras com SOP. Além do mais, observou-se elevado percentual de mulheres com níveis de excreção urinária de albumina em faixas significativamente associadas com aumento do risco para eventos cardiovasculares. Em conjunto, esses dados alertam para a necessidade da abordagem interdisciplinar e multidisciplinar das pacientes com SOP, visando à instituição de medidas voltadas para a prevenção primária cardiovascular

Análise das manifestações auditivas em individuos com hipertensão arterial sistêmica

Objective: To determine the prevalence of auditory manifestations in individuals with hypertension and analyze the association between hearing loss, systemic hypertension and quality of life in hypertensive patients. Method: This was a prospective, observational, case-control study, carried out from June 2010 to December 2013 at the University Hospital Onofre Lopes, in Natal, Brazil, which involved 120 patients of both sexes were analyzed with a diagnosis of hypertension and 120 patients without a diagnosis of hypertension. The audiological function was assessed by tonal and vocal audiometry. The quality of life was defines by the MINICHAL BRASIL questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of hearing loss was high in both groups (82.5 % and 75.8 %, in hypertension group and control, respectively, p=0.003). The sensorineural was the most common type of hearing loss (48.5 %) in hypertension group while conductive hearing loss was predominant (61.5 %) in the control group. There were no difference in the intensity of hearing loss between the groups (p=0,21). The main hearing complaint was hearing loss (51 %), followed by ear pain (14 %). There was worse quality of life in hypertensive individuals with hearing loss (p= 0.0001). Conclusion: Hypertensive individuals showed higher prevalence of auditory events, including hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss is predominant . Hearing loss is associated with worse quality of life of hypertensive individuals even when these pressure values are within normal limits

Modos de ser e modos de viver : a trajetória dos estrangeiros em Natal/RN

This work aims to understand the trajectory of immigrants living in Natal / RN, between the years 1990 and 2009, their motivations for this change, their sociability relations, as well as the impact of this group in Natal and specifically, in the district of Ponta Negra, where most of them established their residences or work. Considering that the historical, political, economical and social environment where these immigrants are inserted, are different from that experienced by former immigrants who came to Brazil in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a period of mass migration, it was revealed that immigration studied in contemporary Natal constitutes a new configuration (Elias, 1994). This new configuration is represented by several characteristics that distinguish this contemporary immigration, as: the relationship established by these foreigners, both with their country of origin and the destination, the formation of social networks that offer support to newcomers and those already installed, the relations of sociability with locals and a new relationship of belonging with the space, since the possibility of coming and going from one country to the other, allows a (re)production of their original ?? social and economic life in the new space. The research methodology was based on the analysis of narrative interviews, in light of the theory of Schütze (1977) in order to understand the faces of this immigration. As theoretical support for the data analysis the theories of authors such as Norbert Elias, presentedin his work about the established and outsiders, Pierre Bourdieu, and his concept of habitus, distinction and style of life, Georg Simmel, and his study of life in the metropolis, his analysis of the foreigner and his theory of sociability, among others. This study attempted to give visibility to foreigners living in Natal, who experience the dynamics of the district of Ponta Negra and reconstruct their daily relations of sociability in this space. In fact, the presence of foreigners in this urban context allows for the construction of new configurations, both in terms of the physical space of the neighborhood, which has been modified by the touristification process and the real estate market, which is molded to meet this demand, but also in their social sphere, with regard to the relations established between foreign residents and locals. In seeking to characterize these migratory experiences it could be understood that the trajectories of each foreigner is part of a broader social structure, which cannot be evaluated neither disconnected from the contexts in which they operate, nor under a single point of view

Adelle de Oliveira: trajetória de vida e prática Pedagógica (1900-1940)

This work analyses pedagogical practices of Adelle Sobral de Oliveira, from 1900 to 1940, in order to notice how her performance as educator and administrator took place in Externato Angelo Varela in the Rio Grande do Norte city of Ceará-Mirim within a time in which the public teaching started to be considered modern in the State. Adelle was a self learner who developed an important role as a mentality mentor of a generation in the region. As the research corpus we have taken the five Reading Books written by Felisberto de Carvalho used by Adelle in her Externato, interviews with her ex-students and researches in the newspapers of her time, in the Public Archives and in the Historical and Geographic Institute of Rio Grande do Norte, and also in the governors messages, Education Department documents such as laws, and government decrees and acts. It was also taken as a research font the Publich Archives of Ceará-Mirim. The aim of this PhD thesis is understand the primary instruction spreading and modernization in the countryside of Rio Grande do Norte, which began with her teaching pedagogical practices. The research results show Adele Oliveira used practical and experimental modern methodological teaching methods in the subjects she taught. Due to this, in her scholar routine, she avoided physical punishment and mechanical teaching and learning strategies

Biologia de Agistemus brasiliensis Matioli, Ueckermann & Oliveira (Acari: Stigmaeidae) e sua potencialidade de predação sobre Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Formação continuada e representação social: implicações para a educação inclusiva

This study is part of the line of research on Teacher Education, circumscribed to the Graduate Program in Education of Federal University Rio Grande do Norte. In it, we have a qualitative research, whose object returned to the influence of continued education in social representation of inclusive education of Elementary School teachers. The same was done in an Elementary School of Cruzeiro do Sul city (Brasil/Acre) and performed with the participation of 11 teachers. We assume that thinking a continuing education inclusive presupposes reflect on the redefinition and resignification of practices undertaken by the teacher. Therefore, the teacher education is conceived as a continuum in which the teacher will be graduating in forming, shaping their way of being in social situations. We argue that in the context of interactions, we are going to reconstruct social representations that guide actions and attitudes about the objects that have meaning for the group. It was with the aim of identify the influence of these social representations and at the same time submit a proposal for continuing training in structured formative needs teachers who made use of collaborative action research. Since we believe that this can either meet the assumptions of a research and vocational training to enable that researcher and other teachers, collectively, problematizing situations of practice and, at the same time able to intervene in the same it. As procedures for obtaining information and analysis of the data, we performed, respectively, semi-structured interviews (individual and collective); reflective studies sessions and the analysis of content. The path of research revealed two social representations integrated one of inclusive education and another for student with disabilities. We noticed that although the teachers criticize the character sealed and limited of continued education courses that have frequented, reveal social representations of inclusive education and students with disabilities based on theories and concepts originated from such courses. As a result, represent inclusive education as an "education for all" and student with disabilities as someone "abnormal, different, but able to learn something . It is possible to state that from the moment the teachers approched theories about the principles of inclusive education and on the possibilities of student with disabilities took new discourses, and showed signs of change in the social representations before presented. In addition, we evidenced in this production that a proposal for training within the school, fomented by the needs teachers and having as methodology to collaborative action research, provides the (re)construction of collective knowledges and practices, sharing of experiences, hopes, discoveries and concerns and the development of cooperation and attitude for the (re)development of strategies to overcome the difficulties present in everyday teaching

Hospital de Pediatria da UFRN: resgatando memórias na construção da história

This study deals with a historical, descriptive and exploratory approach aiming to recall the origin and trajectory of the Pediatrics Hospital at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. This research also deals with the insertion of the nursing department in the same Hospital. This was realized through existing records and discourse collected through interview of professionals-doctors, nurses, midwifes, nursing attendants and psychologists. Thus, a network was established and consisted of qualified informants, composed through reference analysis. Data treatment and analysis was performed based on the collection of oral data. The data was considered according to the font s context, all of which depending on process of comprehension and interpretation. The research was based on the main theme, through oral history used in order to build a historical background. These main themes were then subdivided and other discourses were made present such as: the historical scene, the dream came true and the insertion of nursing, present in the history construction; all of which enabled the research. Thus, in this process, it was possible to identify the most important characters of the origin of children s health services organization and assistance at Rio Grande do Norte. It was possible to perceive that this institution aimed to initiate health services that dealt with an education for future generations. This was observed through the creation of the Faculty of Medicine of Natal and as a consequence, the installation of a Pediatrics Hospital that dealt with medical education. The research made evident that the nursing contributed for a structuring of quality health assistance towards children, even though the resources and working conditions were scarce, extensive work shifts and low professional qualification. It was observed that the there was change in the category s profile, once nurses were introduced in the service. Once this happened, changes in mentality, and innovative processes as well as professional conducts were established. The distinctive relation between acting and doing of doctors and nurses were also dealt with. Thus, the first item is done towards the idealization, projection and prescription. The second issue deals with concretization in realization of something that was not projected and realized, causing suffering and unsatisfaction. At the end, it was possible to confirm that oral history is a very rich element and it is possible through subjects that build history, through their perceptation of the facts and the context in that their are inside

O acolhimento no ambulatório de um hospital universitário na visão de usuários

This present study of quantitative/qualitative approach, aims to analyze the outpatient care at the Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes (HUOL), and, having as guide, the reception of the user. In this regard were invited and interviewed 20 users. Besides the interviews, conducted in a period of 45 days, in this same period of time was used a field diary for more significant notes of observations more significant. In the analysis, we drafted the socio-demographic profile of the group and identified their main complaints, problems and suggestions. For this, we have built graphics, tables and pictures, in addition to standing out their testimony, as a resource for better understanding of the subjective aspects. The theoretical reference consisted of documents from the Ministry of Health about the reception and humanization, and the studies of Merhy, Franco, Pinheiro, Matumoto, Mariotti, Teixeira, among others. The results show the ambulatory of HUOL as a privileged space and of credibility, where users commonly, find answers to their problems. However, these same users were unanimous in saying the difficulties they face in obtaining consultations, from the basic unit, until the hospital. Regarding the service, although they feel satisfied as for the assistance received, they list a series of problems, of structural relationship order: lack of visual signalling, information, wheelchairs, hygiene, in the waiting rooms that offer some comfort, besides the inattention of some professionals. In summary, in the study, undertaken now, we cannot say that there is in the reality studied, the reception, in its full meaning, but the HUOL as hospital-school, has all the potential to accomplish it

Conhecimento dos adolescentes sobre métodos contraceptivos: pesquisa-ação em uma unidade do programa saúde da família de Natal

It is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, and an action-research type, which aimed to analyze the changes of knowledge about contraceptive methods invested to a teenager group attended in Igapó Family Healthcare Unit, in the city of Natal/RN, after consent and institutional assent of Ethics Committee of Rio Grande do Norte Federal University (Protocol No. 131/07). It were researched 16 teenagers of both sexes, with age ranging from 11 to 16 years. We used two structured questionnaires, one in the initial diagnosis and another during the seven meetings of the focus group, in addition to the field notes and the meetings discussions transcriptions. The data-collection was performed in the period of two months by a team composed by a nurse the research coordinator, a dentist, a nursing assistant, a community-based healthcare worker and a nursing academic. The quantitative and qualitative data were organized, tagged and categorized into spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel, being held a thematic analysis of speeches performed by the study participants. The results were presented as tables, graphics, photos, drawings and word clippings. The educational strategy developed in focus group allowed adolescents to discuss, exchange ideas and opinions on several contraceptive methods, providing expansion in knowledge of all contraceptives discussed, especially those natural and surgical, which were less mentioned at the beginning of the study. Among the advantages of the contraceptive methods listed by teenagers, was highlighted avoiding pregnancy and STDs in use of the barrier method of condom. As for the disadvantages more frequently noted by the survey with the misuse of barrier methods, was highlighted get pregnant, acquire STD's and do not prevent STD's in hormonal, natural and surgical methods. Adolescents showed consistency between the advantages and disadvantages and types of contraceptive methods, showing a widening in knowledge among them. It may be said that, in general, those surveyed had a good understanding about the use of the various contraceptive methods. Thus, the study participants had positively evaluated all the criteria used to qualify the meetings in the focus group. The action strategy of the focus group should be encouraged by professionals who work with teenagers, since they prefer to live in groups, one characteristic of adolescence.

Articulação ensino/serviço na visão de discentes de enfermagem

It is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach aimed at understanding the impact of the teaching / service between the Nursing College of University of Rio Grande do Norte (FAEN / UERN) and health services in the city of Mossoró / RN on student s learning process. Hence, it was inquired to rescue and over-elaborate the trajectories experienced by students who were graduating in the year of 2009 the Nursing graduation course. It was used, as guidance tool a questionary with both open and objective questions to support the data collection. The data analysis was accomplished based on the precepts proposed by Bardin. The research revealed a clear need of bond establishments with the involvement of the students on services as well as professionals inserted on Academy, in a way that knowledge can be built collectively and the difficulties can be eased.

Histórias de vidas de Usuários de psicofármacos: o desafio do cuidar para a enfermagem

Study of qualitative approach using the oral history methodology, in modality oral history of life, which aimed to: tell the stories of lives of users of psychotropic drugs for prolonged period of time, in Family Health Unit Santarém (FHU Santarém), Natal-RN-Brazil; identify possible causes which influence and trigger, respectively, use of psychotropic for prolonged period of time; search for greater knowledge about this problem of public health; contribute with the planning and development of nursing cares, to users of psychotropic drugs for prolonged period of time, as well as in Mental Health Care, integrally, in perspective of Family Health Strategy (FHS). It was used as a baseline survey, the coverage area of family health team, from FHU Santarém, which belongs to Health District North II, from Municipal Health Secretariat, in Natal-RN-BR. Eight employees who use psychotropic drugs for prolonged period of time were interviewed. They volunteered to narrate their life stories, which were analyzed by using the thematic modality, since the study is focused on the question of the use of psychotropic drugs for prolonged period of time. The thematic axis crisis, prejudice and care, defined by the categorization of common elements, found through successive and careful readings of narratives, were used to analyze these stories of lives. The study found that users of psychotropic drugs for prolonged period of time are affected by mental health crisis, feeling need to be heard, as well as the existence of social prejudice towards people with mental disorders, and non-completion of development of managed care, by the family health team, and particularly, the nursing care to people suffering from mental disorders and users of psychotropic drugs for prolonged period of time. It is proposed that, in the search of development and planning of nursing care to users of psychotropic drugs for prolonged period of time, and in mental health care, integrally, in FHS, the nurse can think and make a drawing about manners of performing nursing care to this clientele through the use of consultation of nursing, conducting home visits, collective construction of spaces for listening and socialization, which can be used as possible paths for the construction of such care

Representações sociais sobre a prática do cuidado para enfermeiros da saúde indígena: um estudo transcultural

The desire to research on this subject arisen from the experience as nursing in the indigenous health, where I observed that many professionals from all regions of Brazil chose to work within this zone. It was notorious the nurse s difficult to settle in only one place for a long length of time. Probably due to health care in indigenous zones happens from a cultural confront. This confront materialize because both sides are imbued with their own culture: in one hand the nurse professional with its scientific knownledgment on the other the indigenous with their rituals and peculiars habits. In this context nurses should delineate and negotiate the reality through symbolic representations of life, and then make questions on the new reality. In this way, this study set out with the aim of apprehends the nurse s social representations of transcultural care in indigenous health. This knownledgment is important to avoid possible conflicts, shocks, difficulties and health care incongruence within this context. The data collect was carried out on a range of non structured interview guided by a pre-elaborated questionnaire with four questions and a hand drawing related to nurse s health care in the indigenous health. This research had a sample of 17 nurses from the Indigenous Sanitary District of Manaus in the Amazon State. To interpret data we used the Discourse of the Collective Subject, which findings were presented in three chapters: characterization of participants, discussion on themes prevalent in discourse; social representation of nursing care through infographics. The analysis revealed that the care in the indigenous health is challenging because the native people imbued in its world are perceived and processed according to the nurse s cultural lens, leading to materialize of some strangeness and adaptation difficulties, especially in the first contacts. The Social Representation on nursing practice, in many cases, is projected and contrived on the basis of scattered believes and on perception derived from common sense. The findings shows that representions are essential to mitigating the initial strangeness and help nurses to better situate themselves in the new universe. The nurse s practice in the indigenous health care should merge into each other. From the Social Representations is possible to perceive that assimilation, also comprehension on indigenous health system and its traditional knowledge are important to developing strategies to improve access and quality of care for indigenous peoples. After analysis the nurse s discourses and drawings, it is possible to represent the nurse s practice in the indigenous health as anthropophagism, since nurses should literally consuming its patients culture, digesting it and seize it as means to provide culturally congruent care. We highlight the urgent need for preparation and training of professionals to work more effectively with indigenous peoples

Atendimento Pré-hospitalar Móvel. Mapeando Riscos e Prevenindo Erros

The attention with safety of the patients is important in the quality of the nursing and health care. In the pre-hospital care, such care is essential on site with the purpose of avoiding possible consequences to the individual, ensuring a fast and appropriate care, with improvement of the morbidity and reduction of the mortality. This medical attention is equally associated with the significant risks of adverse events and serious mistakes, which can be reduced with the awareness of the professionals, organization and quality management. It is a descriptive, transversal research, of quantitative approach, with the objective of identifying the risks for the safety of the patient during the mobile pre-hospital care under the view of the nurses, in a city of the Brazilian Northeast. The sample was formed by 23 nurses. The inclusion criteria: to have at least two years of experience and accept to participate on the research. The data collection was done in two steps, first photo collection, through the adapted method of photographic analysis, and the second with the application of questionnaire, divide in two parts: socio-professional data and digital photo punctuation instrument of the patient s safety. The majority of the nurses had an average working time in the mobile pre-hospital care of six years and six months, in the age group of 38 to 53 years old (69,56%) and with Lato sensu specialization (73,91%), being (29,41%) emergency and (29,41%) in intensive care. The (74%) have the Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and (100%) have the Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS); (91, 30%) know the thematic safety of the patient. On the pictures it was observed a bigger variability of the categories (risks) where 44% of variance emerged on the first picture of the research. The pictures 4 and 9 with the average below 5 were classified as very insecure, while pictures 7 and 3 with an average above 7, very secure. On the results of risks observed for the patient s safety in the mobile pre-hospital care five categories emerged: organization and packaging of the equipment and materials, routines and specificities in the mobile pre-hospital care, risks on the management of medications, for traumas and infections. Starting from the analysis of these risks, it was proposed ten steps for the safety in the mobile pre-hospital care: 1- Identify the patient; 2- Safety related to prevention of infection; 3- Safety in the management of medications; 4- Safety and standardization of the packaging of equipment and materials; 5- Attention to the specificities of the mobile pre-hospital care; 6- Incentive and value the participation of the patient and family; 7- Promote the communication with the central of regulation; 8- Prevention of traumas and falls; 9- Protect the skin from additional injuries; 10- Understand the benefit of all the equipment in the ambulance. The multiple risks and their emerged combinations on the research indicate a variety of actions to be developed and stimulated, like the use of steps for the patient s safety in the mobile pre-hospital care which contributes with the aid and management of risks, reduction of mistakes, disabilities and death

O cuidador familiar de pessoa com doença de Alzheimer: história oral de vida

The aim of the present study was to understand the feelings and the difficulties faced by the family caregiver in the care of the person affected by Alzheimer`s Disease (AD). It is a descriptive, exploratory study with a qualitative approach, using the oral life history proposed by Bom Meihy as the method. Data collection was conducted in the Basic Health Unit of Candelaria, located in Natal -RN, with five collaborators that carry out the role of family caregivers for people affected by Alzheimer`s disease (AD) and are members of the Group "Caring for those who Care". Caregi vers who resided with the affected family member for at least one year were selected for the study, and as a collection tool, it was opted to use semi-structured interviews via a script of open questions, recorded by permission of the collaborators, then t ranscribed and subsequently returned to respondents for checking the contents described. To analyze the results, the collaborators narrative technique was used in conjuction with the specific literature on the subject.The discussions were organized around five themes inherent to the guiding questions, and defined as follows: the incorporation of the role of the family caregiver; life before and after assuming the role of caregiver, the caregiver`s feelings and attitudes after assuming the care, difficulti es in caring, participation of the group as a foundation for caregivers. The stories showed many difficulties in the daily routine of the caregivers, and also that their participation in the group "Caring for those who Care" helps them in maintaining the q uality of their lives. The results open possibilities for the construction of new forms of approach and care for the people who fulfill the role of family caregiver contributing to strengthening of subsidies that help them better face the daily difficulti es.This study helped shed light on the fact that being a family caregiver of a person affected by AD is a suffered, exhausting and stressful condition involving much self-denial in one´s life. The situation experienced by these collaborators is considered a public health issue, and thus highlights the urgency for governmental political -social actions, besides the programs of care and health promotion for this target group.

Hanseníase: a implicação da educação em saúde para o autocuidado

A hanseníase é um problema de saúde em nível mundial devido principalmente ao seu potencial incapacitante. A estratégia de combate à doença adotada pelo Ministério de Saúde é o diagnóstico e tratamento precoces, prevenção e tratamento de incapacidades físicas e vigilância dos contatos domiciliares. Tudo isso fundamentado na educação em saúde como sustentáculo para compreensão do processo de adoecimento, da doença em si, sua aceitação e, principalmente, das ações de autocuidado para prevenção de sequelas. Nesse contexto, questiona-se: Qual a implicação da assistência de enfermagem focada na educação em saúde para o autocuidado em portadores de hanseníase? O objetivo geral desse estudo é avaliar os conhecimentos adquiridos pelos portadores de hanseníase sobre a doença, o tratamento e autocuidado abordados durante a consulta de enfermagem. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório-descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, realizado no Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes. Respeitou a resolução 466/12 do Conselho Nacional de Saúde e foi aprovado pelo comitê de ética sob nº 387.769 e CAAE 17468213.0.0000.5537. Envolveu 14 portadores de hanseníase em tratamento no ambulatório de dermatologia do HUOL. Os dados foram coletados no período de 23 de setembro a 04 de novembro de 2013 por meio de entrevista semi-estruturada; e analisados a partir da analise de conteúdo de Bardin. Os resultados e discussões são apresentados através de um artigo, o qual atende os objetivos propostos, denominado O autocuidado realizado por portadores de hanseníase . Esse objetivou identificar as ações de autocuidado de portadores de hanseníase em uma unidade de referência a partir de três eixos temáticos emersos dos discursos dos sujeitos: 1.as complicações/sequelas da hanseníase conhecidas pelos portadores da doença; 2. as ações de autocuidado adotadas pelos portadores de hanseníase; 3. as possíveis contribuições de um grupo de autocuidado para os portadores de hanseníase. Constou-se aparente superficialidade no conhecimento dos pacientes sobre as complicações da hanseníase, como também, das ações de autocuidado realizadas por eles. Verificou-se também a importância da assistência de enfermagem ao portador de hanseníase, tanto na atenção primária, quanto nos demais níveis de complexidade 11 da assistência. Considera-se que o enfermeiro é um potencial colaborador da educação em saúde como alicerce para o controle e eliminação da hanseníase