Keywords
Treatment adherence
Vulnerabilities
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Abstract
Objective: To identify, through scientific literature, the factors associated with treatment abandonment for leprosy in the Brazilian context. Methods: This is an integrative literature review, with a qualitative approach, conducted in the PubMed, Medline, Lilacs, and CAPES Periodicals databases, considering studies published between 2019 and 2025, in Portuguese and English. The selection of studies followed previously established inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in nine articles for final analysis. Qualitative data were organized and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The main factors related to treatment abandonment involved difficulties in accessing health services, weaknesses in primary care, late diagnosis, adverse effects of multidrug therapy, low income and education levels, as well as psychosocial factors such as stigma, prejudice, fear, social exclusion, and psychological distress. It was also observed that treatment abandonment is associated with both the structural limitations of services and the social vulnerabilities faced by patients. Final considerations: Treatment abandonment in leprosy has a multifactorial character, requiring integrated strategies that involve strengthening primary care, expanding access to care, health education actions, and psychosocial support for affected individuals.
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