ABSTRACT
Objective
To understand the social representations of people with TB who discontinued treatment in a Program of Tuberculosis Control.
Method
a descriptive study of qualitative approach conducted in the city of Lima, Peru. Data were collected from October to November 2012, through semi-structured interviews with eight individuals and the method used was thematic content analysis.
Results
The categories led to the construction of the social representation that the disease and the treatment bring suffering. This representation influences non-adherence to treatment and may increase the rates of treatment discontinuation.
Conclusion
Educational strategies linked to social interaction processes, to subjectivity and to the patient context are needed to reduce the rates of discontinuation of tuberculosis treatment, relapses and multi-drug resistance. The evaluations point to new challenges that must be faced to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Treatment refusal; Nursing; Tuberculosis; Millennium Development Goals