Epidemiological aspects of leprosy in Juazeiro-BA, from 2002 to 2012

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, able to infect large numbers of people. This work is relevant to Juazeiro-BA, a hyper-endemic area for leprosy, since unravel the behavior of the disease in the area, may suggest the decision making for sectors of surveillance, establishing strategies, organizing and evaluating programs and services. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the epidemiology of leprosy in Juazeiro-BA, from 2002 to 2012. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted based in data of the Diseases Notification System, assigned by the service of Epidemiology from Juazeiro-BA, between 2002 and 2012. RESULTS: 1,916 new cases of leprosy were detected between 2002 and 2012, of which 921 (48.07%) represented male sex, 995 (51.93%) female, and there was a reduction in the incidence rate of leprosy per 100,000 inhabitants. Most carriers were brown individuals, with low levels of education, living in the urban area, being more prevalent in the economically active age group. Through statistical analysis we found that there are more chances of developing sequelae among men, and multibacillary individuals older than 45 years. CONCLUSIONS: The work serves to direct efforts to control this disease, and highlights the importance of active search for new cases to achieve an early diagnosis, reducing the number of sequels and allowing breaking the chain of disease transmission.

Epidemiological aspects of leprosy in Juazeiro-BA, from 2002 to 2012.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, able to infect large numbers of people. This work is relevant to Juazeiro-BA, a hyper-endemic area for leprosy, since unravel the behavior of the disease in the area, may suggest the decision making for sectors of surveillance, establishing strategies, organizing and evaluating programs and services. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the epidemiology of leprosy in Juazeiro-BA, from 2002 to 2012. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted based in data of the Diseases Notification System, assigned by the service of Epidemiology from Juazeiro-BA, between 2002 and 2012. RESULTS: 1,916 new cases of leprosy were detected between 2002 and 2012, of which 921 (48.07%) represented male sex, 995 (51.93%) female, and there was a reduction in the incidence rate of leprosy per 100,000 inhabitants. Most carriers were brown individuals, with low levels of education, living in the urban area, being more prevalent in the economically active age group. Through statistical analysis we found that there are more chances of developing sequelae among men, and multibacillary individuals older than 45 years. CONCLUSIONS: The work serves to direct efforts to control this disease, and highlights the importance of active search for new cases to achieve an early diagnosis, reducing the number of sequels and allowing breaking the chain of disease transmission.

Saberes e práticas de agentes comunitários de saúde acerca da Hanseníase / Knowledge and practices of community health agents about Hansen's disease

Objetivo: avaliar o conhecimento de Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS) acerca da hanseníase. Método: estudo descritivo, de abordagem qualitativa, com 37 ACS de Petrolina-PE escolhidos aleatoriamente. Os dados foram coletados por meio de formulário contendo questões abertas, analisados e categorizados pela Análise de Conteúdo. Resultados: a maioria dos agentes tinha pacientes hansênicos em sua área, porém alguns não realizavam tratamento; também a maioria sabia identificar a sintomatologia e medidas a serem tomadas após diagnóstico. No entanto, referiram pouco conhecimento sobre a doença. Nenhum dos participantes mencionou a importância da vacinação BCG para contatos do paciente. O preconceito ainda é algo preocupante, visto que alguns afirmaram evitar tocar ou aproximar-se dos acometidos. Conclusão: urge intensificar ações de educação em saúde, dado o contato permanente destes profissionais com a população, evitando marginalização de pacientes hansênicos e familiares. Descritores: Agentes Comunitários de Saúde; Hanseníase; Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Práticas em Saúde.(AU)