Social representations on hepatitis and health professionals: contributions to (re)think the formation - DOI: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v7i2.5003

Abstract

The psycho-social approach of viral hepatitis studies is scarce in the literature. This paper presents results of an investigation related to the scientific information of health professionals on the prevention of these diseases. The professionals were enrolled in a Public Health specialization program. A structural approach of the social representations was used applying evocation tests with the word “hepatitis” and a questionnaire containing questions about the mechanisms of transmission and the prevention of viral hepatitis. Subjects (N=190) were from 10 professional categories; aged 22-60 years (mean=33.6 years); 80% were women; 35.3% from the Southeast of Brazil, 27.4% Northeast, 20.5% Center-West and 16.8% North. Structure of the social representations of hepatitis: central system consisting of “illness” and peripheral system of “contagion”, “sanitation”, “sex”, “treatment”, “death”, “care”, “diet”, “types”, “monitoring” and “rest”. Gaps and incorrect information were evidenced on risks of transmission for contaminated water, sexual promiscuity and blood transfusion. There is evidence of contradiction between theory and practice, inferred as a result of a fragmentary view in the education of health professionals.