Epidemiological pattern of leprosy in an endemic area of North-East Brazil, 1996-2005: the supporting role of a Nongovernmental Organization

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical

Mastrangelo, Giuseppe¹  Cegolon, Luca¹  Scoizzato, Luca¹  University of Padova, Italy¹  Fadda, Emanuela¹  Santos, Luimar De Jesus¹  Silva, Gilberto Valentim da¹  Fondazione Frà Roggero Caccia Dominioni, Venezia, Italy¹  Governmental Leprosy Service, Floriano, Brazil¹ 

关键词: Leprosy;    Leprosy elimination indicators;    Case detection rate;    Prevalence;    Proportion of multibacillary patients;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0037-86822009000600003

学科分类：农业科学（综合）

来源: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical

【 摘 要 】

In an endemic area of North-East Brazil (the town of Picos, State of Piauí), a nongovernmental organization (NGO) supported the activity against leprosy in connection with governmental health organizations and local agents. The indicators of leprosy elimination were compared over time (within Picos) and across space (Picos versus Piauí). The case detection rate, above 8 per 10,000 people in the last two years of observation, increased over time in Picos (p=0.010). This finding could be due to active detection activities rather than expanding endemicity, as suggested by the reduction in leprosy in children (p=0.053) and the decrease in the proportion of new cases with grade 2 disability (p<0.001). These indicators showed a more favorable time trend in the city than in the State, suggesting that NGO activity was supportive in the battle towards leprosy control.

【 授权许可】

Unknown