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

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.

The stigma and prejudice of leprosy: influence on the human condition

INTRODUCTION: To analyze the knowledge, feelings and perceptions involving patients affected by leprosy, as a better understanding of these factors may be useful to decrease the stigma and prejudice associated with the condition. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 94 patients who underwent treatment for leprosy at the Health Units in the City of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso (MT), Brazil. The study questionnaire included items to collect information on socio-demographic data, knowledge about the disease, stigma, prejudice, self-esteem and quality of life of leprosy patients. Bivariate analyses were used to assess the data based on the chi-square test with a 5% significance threshold. RESULTS: The results revealed that the study population consisted predominantly of males (55.3%) with an income between 1 and 3 times the minimum wage (67%). The survey respondents reported that the most significant difficulties related to the treatment were the side effects (44.7%) and the duration of the treatment (28.7%). A total of 72.3% of the subjects were knowledgeable about the disease, of whom 26.6% had the leprosy reaction. Stigma and prejudice were cited by 93.6% of the participants. Based on the responses, 40.4% of patients reported being depressed and sad, and 69.1% of the subjects encountered problems at work after being diagnosed. A total of 45.7% of the patients rated their quality of life between bad and very bad. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that leprosy causes suffering in patients beyond pain and discomfort and greatly influences social participation. .

Aspectos sociodemográficos e epidemiológicos dos casos de hanseníase em uma área endêmica: conhecimentos e experiências de cirurgiões-dentistas / Demographic and epidemiological aspects of leprosy cases in an endemic area: knowledge and experience of dentists

A hanseníase é uma doença infecciosa crônica causada pelo Mycobacterium leprae, que acomete preferencialmente pele e nervos periféricos, com um grande potencial para desenvolver incapacidades físicas. A redução da transmissibilidade e do número de doentes com lesões incapacitantes depende do incremento do diagnóstico precoce da doença. Os objetivos do presente trabalho foram conhecer as principais características epidemiológicas de indivíduos notificados com hanseníase, no período de 2013 a 2014, e o conhecimento e atuação do cirurgião-dentista no controle da endemia, no município de Cuiabá-MT. Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico transversal, dividido em duas etapas, que incluem: análise de 434 Ficha Individual de Notificação/Investigação de Hanseniase, inquérito com 242 cirurgiões-dentistas (CD’s) atuantes no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) de Cuiabá, para analisar o conhecimento sobre a forma de contágio, características clínicas e tratamento; além das experiências em relação a suspeita diagnóstica e encaminhamento de casos. A análise de dados foi realizada através do Program Statistical Package for Social Sciense (SPSS) versão 21.0 e da análise bivariada utilizando o teste qui-quadrado e nível de significância de 5%. Do total de 434 Fichas de Investigação avaliadas a maior parte era do sexo feminino (52,5%), com idade acima de 60 anos (26,3%), pardos (48,4%), com ensino fundamental incompleto (32,7%). A forma clínica e classe operacional mais prevalentes foram dimorfa e multibacilar esta última mais frequente no sexo feminino. Quanto ao estudo dos CD’s os resultados mostraram a predominância do sexo feminino (65,7%), idade entre 30 e 39 anos (43%) e profissionais com 6 a 10 anos de formados (23,6%). No tocante ao tempo de trabalho no SUS, o maior percentual (28,1%) apresentava mais de 10 anos de trabalho. Quanto ao conhecimento sobre a doença, 30,6% não sabiam a eficácia do tratamento da hanseníase, 47% não tinham conhecimento que a doença era de notificação...

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves, with great potential to develop physical disabilities. Reducing the transmission and the number of patients with disabling injuries depends on the increase in early diagnosis. The objectives of this study were to know the main epidemiological characteristics of individuals with leprosy reported in the period 2013-2014, and the knowledge and performance of the dentist in leprosy control in the city of Cuiaba-MT. It is an epidemiological study, divided into two steps, which include: analysis of 434 Individual Forms of Leprosy Notification/Investigation, and survey of 242 dentists (CDs) working at the Unified Health System (SUS) in Cuiabá, to analyze their knowledge about the ways of transmission, clinical features and treatment, besides analyzing their experiences in relation to diagnostic suspicion and referral of cases. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package Program for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21.0, and bivariate analysis using the chi-square test and 5% significance level. Of the total of 434 Investigation forms analyzed, the majority of the patients were female (52.5%), aged over 60 (26.3%), of mixed race (48.4%), with incomplete primary education (32.7%). The most prevalent clinical form and operating class were borderline and multibacillary, the latter more frequent in females. As for the study of CDs, the results showed a predominance of females (65.7%), aged between 30 and 39 years old (43%) and professionals graduated 6-10 years earlier (23.6%). With regard to time working at SUS, the highest percentage (28.1%) had worked for over 10 years. Regarding knowledge about the disease, 30.6% did not know the effectiveness of the treatment of leprosy, 47% were unaware that the disease was reportable and only 8.3% obtained information about leprosy at work. It was concluded that there was a higher prevalence of...