Coping with syphilis in homeless people: experience report

This study aimed to describe the experience of a Consultório na Rua (eCnaR) team in implementing care strategies to combat acquired and gestational syphilis in the population living on the streets. This is a described study, an experience report type, carried out in an eCnaR in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between the months of May 2022 and November 2023. The experience was discussed in the light of the medium reach self-efficacy theory, by Bárbara Resnick. Among the 371 people living on the streets registered with the team, 86 were diagnosed with acquired or gestational syphilis. The complete treatment rate was 51.16%, others 12.79% had treatment interrupted, as it was considered scarring or primary syphilis. Among pregnant women, 90.91% completed the treatment. Changes in professional language and the environment, which include organizational culture, norms and routine, tend to contribute to improving self-efficacy for treating syphilis among people living on the streets.

KEYWORDS
Primary health care; Self efficacy; Ill-housed persons; Syphilis