Leprosy incidence, characterization of cases and correlation with household and cases variables of the Brazilian states in 2010

• Main Author: Castro,Shamyr Sulyvan de
• Publication Date: 2016
• Other Authors: Santos,Juliana Pereira Pontes, Abreu,Graziela Basílio, Oliveira,Vanessa Rossato, Fernandes,Luciane Fernanda Rodrigues Martinho
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Anais brasileiros de dermatologia (Online)
• Download full: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0365-05962016000100028
• topic: Health policy; Incidence; Leprosy

Abstract BACKGROUND: Leprosy is millenary disease and still persists in several countries. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the incidence of leprosy in the Brazilian states and for the country in the year 2010; to describe the cases reported according to the studied variables; to verify the correlation between the overall incidence and the studied variables. METHODS: Ecological descriptive study, with population data from the 27 states, 2010. Information about reported cases were collected: gender, race, percentage of patients younger than 15 years old and living conditions. The analysis was performed using percentages, means, incidence rates and the Spearman correlation test. RESULTS: The states of Mato Grosso and Tocantins recorded the highest incidence rates; Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, the lowest; there was a higher incidence of leprosy among men; the incidence of leprosy increases proportionally with the nonwhites among the inhabitants; patients younger than 15 years; the average number of residents per household; and a decrease in coverage of water supply and presence of bathrooms. CONCLUSION: The incidence of leprosy is related to factors as gender, race and house conditions (p<0,05 for all).