Meanings of the corporeal experiences of people with pulmonary tuberculosis: The construction of a new identity

Abstract

Objective: to understand the meanings of the corporeal experiences of people being treated for pulmonary tuberculosis. Method: qualitative research, carried out in the municipality of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The theoretical reference of Anthropology in Health by Byron Good was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten people in the second phase of the treatment for tuberculosis, in their residences, between April and May 2015. For the analysis of the data, the Thematic Content Analysis technique was used. Results: two categories have emerged: The body signaling the disease that reveals itself in the presence of symptoms (fever, weight loss, weakness) and The sick body that manifests suffering, fear, stigma and distancing. Conclusion: the presence of tuberculosis in the body is capable of generating apprehension, disruption of leisure and work activities, and distancing from family and social life. It is essential to develop a look at care, to understand the unique needs of those who experience the illness, to value their life history and their subjectivity.