Evaluation of national leprosy eradication program after integration into general health system in Rajkot district, Gujarat from 2003 to 2014

Abstract

Background: National Leprosy Eradication Program (NLEP) was launched in 1983 with the goal of elimination of leprosy as a public health problem. Aim: To evaluate the NLEP performance after integration into general health system from April 2003 to March 2014. Material and Methods: A retrospective record based study was conducted by obtaining data from Rajkot district leprosy center. Prevalence rate (PR), new case detection rate (NCDR), proportion of female cases, child cases, multibacillary (MB) cases, Grade II disability among new cases and release from treatment (RFT) cases were evaluated from April 2003 to March 2014 and analyzed by using Chi-square for trend analysis test. Results: The PR of leprosy per 10,000 populations was significantly declined (P 0.05). The proportion of child cases also showed significantly declining trend from 12.08% in 2003-2004 to 6.70% in 2013-2014 (P 0.05). Proportion of patients RFT showed fluctuation from 66.66% (2003-2004) to 45.68% (2009-2010) and then 64.66% (2013-2014) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The NLEP is having a favorable impact on the problem of leprosy by maintaining the elimination level of leprosy in Rajkot district over a decade.

Keywords

• Disability
• evaluation
• integration
• leprosy
• prevalence