Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ()

Sociodemographic and epidemiological profile of leprosy patients in an endemic region in Brazil

  • Ronald Jefferson Martins,
  • Maria Emília Oliveira Gomes Carloni,
  • Suzely Adas Saliba Moimaz,
  • Cléa Adas Saliba Garbin,
  • Artênio José Ísper Garbin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0069-2016
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 49, no. 6
pp. 777 – 780

Abstract

Read online

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The incidence of Hansen's disease is high in overlooked populations. METHODS: Data of Hansen's disease cases reported in the information system of the Department of Informatics, Brazilian Unified Health System, from 2013 to 2014 were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 434 studied cases of Hansen's disease, the female sex (52.5%), adult age (73.7%), low educational level (61.8%), and multibacillary form were associated with higher prevalence rates. CONCLUSIONS: Hansen's disease is more frequent among female adults with a low educational level, and the prevalence of multibacillary leprosy reflects disease detection at late stages.

Keywords