Spatial analysis of the distribution of leprosy in the State of Ceará, Northeast Brazil
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
99(7): 683-686, Nov. 2004. mapas
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-391594
RESUMO
The aim of this study was to describe spatial patterns of the distribution of leprosy and to investigate spatial clustering of incidence rates in the state of Ceará, Northeast Brazil. The average incidence rate of leprosy for the period of 1991 to 1999 was calculated for each municipality of Ceará. Maps were used to describe the spatial distribution of the disease, and spatial statistics were applied to explore large- and small-scale variations of incidence rates. Three regions were identified in which the incidence of leprosy was particularly high. A spatial gradient in the incidence rates was identified, with a tendency of high rates to be concentrated on the North-South axis in the middle region of the state. Moran's I statistic indicated that a significant spatial autocorrelation also existed. The spatial distribution of leprosy in Ceará is heterogeneous. The reasons for spatial clustering of disease rates are not known, but might be related to an heterogeneous distribution of other factors such as crowding, social inequality, and environmental characteristics which by themselves determine the transmission of Mycobacterium leprae.
Full text:
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Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Leprosy
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Incidence study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2004
Type:
Article
/
Project document
Affiliation country:
Brazil
/
Germany
Institution/Affiliation country:
Freie Universitãt Berlin/DE
/
Universidade Federal da Bahia/BR
/
Universidade Federal do Ceará/BR
/
Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/BR
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