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

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Ronald Jefferson Martins, Maria Emília Oliveira Gomes Carloni, Suzely Adas Saliba Moimaz, Cléa Adas Saliba Garbin, Artênio José Ísper Garbin
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Health profile; Socioeconomic factors; Hansen's disease; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0069-2016; https://doaj.org/article/1e561f85d59e4247add90bd45f71acd5

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.