Aim: to identify the factors that influence Nursing students' knowledge about Hansen's disease. Method: this is a cross-section study with a quantitative approach, performed from May to June 2016. The sample was composed by 167 Nursing students of a public university located in the Northeastern region of Brazil. Result: the majority of students knows the main aspects of the disease. Factors such as being single, not having another occupation or income, to live with few other people, and search for information with professor were associated to a higher level of understanding about leprosy. Female students demonstrated less chances to know about Hansen's disease. Conclusion: Nursing students know about leprosy, however there are still questions regarding the transmission of the illness.

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