Abstract
Objective: To analyze the practice of nurses related to leprosy control actions in Family Health Units in a municipality in Pernambuco. Methods: This is a descriptive study, with a quantitative, cross-sectional approach. The population was composed of 33 nurses and a semi-structured interview was used for data collection. The data were processed in the EPIINFO program, exported to SPSS. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Results: The interviewees are familiar with and operationalize the leprosy control actions. However, they have difficulties in operationalizing some of the actions and in their attributions in assisting people with the disease. Statistical associations were made to identify the factors that influence knowledge, in the presence of difficulties and the operationalization of leprosy control actions, demonstrating that knowledge about the actions directly intervenes in the realization of them. Conclusion: Thus, for the epidemiological indicators to reveal lower rates of leprosy detection and prevalence it is necessary to carry out leprosy control actions effectively and the lack of operationalization of these actions is a consequence of the absence of a permanent education policy for health professionals.