Collection of educational materials on Hansen's disease: A tool for memory and communicative practices

Abstract

Educational materials form part of the guidelines for Hansen's disease control programs. The aims of the present study were to describe the process of creating a database for 276 educational materials on Hansen's disease that were produced by public and non-governmental institutions between 1972 and 2008, and to analyze the type, target public and objectives. The database was set up electronically and contained a descriptive and thematic analysis and a link to the complete document containing the materials. The materials were targeted at the general public (75%), healthcare professionals (12%), children and adolescents (6%), individuals with Hansen's disease (3%), and others (4%). Pamphlets (26%), leaflets (24%) and posters (23%) predominated, followed by primers (15%), flipbooks (3%) and others (9%). They aimed to increase self-awareness and case detection and to publicize healthcare services. Biomedical discourse using technical-prescriptive language and hierarchical relationships between enunciator and target predominated.