Human migration, railways and the geographic distribution of leprosy in Rio Grande do Norte State--Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is a public health problem in Brazil where 31,044 new cases were detected in 2013. Rio Grande do Norte is a small Brazilian state with a rate of leprosy lower than other areas in the same region, for unknown reasons. OBJECTIVES: We present here a review based on the analysis of a database of registered leprosy cases in Rio Grande do Norte state, comparing leprosy's geographic distribution among municipalities with local socio-economic and public health indicators and with historical documents about human migration in this Brazilian region. RESULTS: The current distribution of leprosy in Rio Grande do Norte did not show correlation with socio-economic or public health indicators at the municipal level, but it appears related to economically emerging municipalities 100 years ago, with spread facilitated by railroads and train stations. Drought-related migratory movements which occurred from this state to leprosy endemic areas within the same period may be involved in the introduction of leprosy and with its present distribution within Rio Grande do Norte. CONCLUSIONS: Leprosy may disseminate slowly, over many decades in certain circumstances, such as in small cities with few cases. This is a very unusual situation currently and a unique opportunity for epidemiologic studies of leprosy as an emerging disease.

Patrimônio-paisagem: função social da cidade / Landscape as patrimony: urban social function

Entende-se que paisagens singulares se constituem em patrimônios culturais das cidades, na medida em que fazem parte do cotidiano dos cidadãos e estão presentes nas representações sociais. Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, uma cidade com qualidades ambientais marcantes e se destaca pela beleza do sítio onde está assentada. A legislação urbanística procurou preservar as características da paisagem local, instituindo Areas de Controle de Gabarito, destinadas a proteger o valor cênico-paisagístico de alguns trechos da cidade. Em contrapartida, o setor da construção civil tem exercido constante pressão, no sentido de abolir ou modificar esse instrumento legal. Este trabalho tenta levantar elementos sobre o tema no âmbito local, no sentido de que a experiência de Natal e seu estudo de caso possam contribuir para formular indicativos capazes de questionar a não mensuração de valores subjetivos, como, por exemplo, o valor cultural e afetivo da paisagem.(AU)

It is understood that singular landscapes constitute the cultural patrimonies of the cities, once they are part of the daily life of the citizens and are present in their social representations. Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, is a city where the ambient qualities are well defined and known by the beauty of the area where it is located. The urban legislation tried to preserve the features of the local landscape delimiting “Areas for Controlling Building High”, destined to protect the scenic value of some parts of the city. On the other hand, the civil construction sector has made constant pressure in sense to abolish or to modify this legal instrument. This work tries to raise elements about the subject at local level, in sense to use Natal City experience to contribute for the formulation of indicators to raise the question about the lack of measure for subjective values, for example the cultural and affective value of the landscape.(AU)

Patrimônio-paisagem: função social da cidade / Landscape as patrimony: urban social function

Entende-se que paisagens singulares se constituem em patrimônios culturais das cidades, na medida em que fazem parte do cotidiano dos cidadãos e estão presentes nas representações sociais. Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, uma cidade com qualidades ambientais marcantes e se destaca pela beleza do sítio onde está assentada. A legislação urbanística procurou preservar as características da paisagem local, instituindo Areas de Controle de Gabarito, destinadas a proteger o valor cênico-paisagístico de alguns trechos da cidade. Em contrapartida, o setor da construção civil tem exercido constante pressão, no sentido de abolir ou modificar esse instrumento legal. Este trabalho tenta levantar elementos sobre o tema no âmbito local, no sentido de que a experiência de Natal e seu estudo de caso possam contribuir para formular indicativos capazes de questionar a não mensuração de valores subjetivos, como, por exemplo, o valor cultural e afetivo da paisagem.

It is understood that singular landscapes constitute the cultural patrimonies of the cities, once they are part of the daily life of the citizens and are present in their social representations. Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, is a city where the ambient qualities are well defined and known by the beauty of the area where it is located. The urban legislation tried to preserve the features of the local landscape delimiting “Areas for Controlling Building High”, destined to protect the scenic value of some parts of the city. On the other hand, the civil construction sector has made constant pressure in sense to abolish or to modify this legal instrument. This work tries to raise elements about the subject at local level, in sense to use Natal City experience to contribute for the formulation of indicators to raise the question about the lack of measure for subjective values, for example the cultural and affective value of the landscape.