01077nas a2200157 4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653002900054653001200083653001200095100001400107700001100121245007200132520070100204022001400905 2021 d c07/202110aBrazil, Hansen's disease10aleprosy10astigma 1 aDelboni L1 aDeps P00aConsensus in Brazil on the renaming of leprosy to Hansen's disease.3 a

Brazil has been at the forefront in replacing the stigmatising term 'leprosy' with the non-pejorative alternative 'Hansen's disease' ('hansenĂ­ase'), with use of the former word prohibited by law since 1995. This change followed decades of advocacy, including by civil society organisations representing people affected by the disease. A survey of people affected by Hansen's disease in Brazil found that 111/112 respondents preferred the alternative term, supporting the view that consideration of non-stigmatising terminology that respects the wishes of people affected by the disease should be part of the WHO Global Leprosy (Hansen's disease) Strategy to achieve 'zero stigma' by 2030.

 a1878-3503