Coping strategies, limitation of daily activities and social participation of elderly people who have or have had Leprosy

Coping for Elderly People with Leprosy

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the limitation in carrying (coping) out activities of daily living, social participation and coping strategies of elderly people who have or have had leprosy. Method: Were evaluated seventy participants in a Leprosy Reference Center in Brazil, aged sixty years or older in 2017. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, as well as the assessment of the World Health Organization’s Degree of Disability, and the Salsa, Social Participation and Coping Inventory protocols were applied. The data was entered into an Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using the Epi Info 7.2.6.0 statistical program. Results: Among the aged, 91.4% had limitation in daily activities, 48.6% with restrictions on social participation and 64.3% with disability grade 2. The most used coping strategies were: “positive feedback” (70%), “self-control” (67.2%), “problem solving” (65.7%), “social support” (65.7%) and “removal” (62.9%). The prolonged living time and functional adaptation to their activities may justify
the use of positive coping strategies, even in the presence of physical disabilities and limitations in daily activities and social participation. Conclusion: The data obtained can help the healthcare team to plan and execute effective actions of prevention
and rehabilitation, for the elderly achieve better quality of life.