Migration among individuals with leprosy: a population-based study in Central Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Murto,Christine
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Ariza,Liana, Alencar,Carlos Henrique, Chichava,Olga André, Oliveira,Alexcian Rodrigues, Kaplan,Charles, Silva,Luciana Ferreira Marques da, Heukelbach,Jorg
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Cadernos de Saúde Pública
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-311X2014000300487
• topic: Internal Migration; Leprosy; Poverty

This study investigates social and clinical factors associated with migration among individuals affected by leprosy. A cross-sectional study was conducted among those newly diagnosed with leprosy (2006-2008), in 79 endemic municipalities in the state of Tocantins, Brazil (N = 1,074). In total, 76.2% were born in a municipality different from their current residence. In the five years before diagnosis 16.7% migrated, and 3.6% migrated after leprosy diagnosis. Findings reflect aspects associated with historical rural-urban population movement in Brazil. Indicators of poverty were prominent among before-diagnosis migrants but not after-diagnosis migrants. Migration after diagnosis was associated with prior migration. The association of multibacillary leprosy with migration indicates healthcare access may be an obstacle to early diagnosis among before-diagnosis migrants, which may also be related to the high mobility of this group.