Limitações de atividades diárias nos casos de hanseníase notificados em um município maranhense

Abstract

Hansen's disease, due to its chronic nature and potentially disabling character, exposes individuals to different levels of physical, social, and psychological vulnerability. Neural lesions resulting from the disease can compromise sensitivity and motor function, leading to disabilities that directly interfere with the performance of daily activities and functional autonomy. This study aimed to assess limitations in daily activities and their associated factors in people affected by Hansen's disease. It is an epidemiological, cross-sectional study conducted with 26 patients aged ≥18 years, residing in Pinheiro (MA), undergoing treatment at Primary Health Care/Family Health Strategy units and reported in SINAN between July 2024 and September 2025. Data collection used a structured questionnaire for sociodemographic, clinical, environmental, and family data, a simplified neurological assessment form, and the Screening of Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness (SALSA), scale to measure activity limitation. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed, applying Fisher’s exact test (α=5%). The SALSA Scale showed that 57.7% of participants presented some degree of limitation, with a higher frequency of mild limitation (38.5%), while moderate to extreme limitation was identified in 19.2% of cases. The sample was characterized by middle-aged and older adults, with low educational level and low income, predominantly of mixed and a high proportion of multibacillary cases with grade 1 physical disability. No statistically significant associations were found between the presence of functional limitation and sociodemographic, environmental, or clinical variables, except for the mode of case detection, whose association showed a strong effect, with a lower proportion of limitations among patients diagnosed through spontaneous demand. The findings reinforce the need for early detection, disability surveillance, and the provision of rehabilitation actions within primary care, aiming to preserve the physical functionality of people affected by Hansen's disease. Keywords: