Exploring clustering of leprosy in the Comoros and Madagascar: A geospatial analysis.
Int J Infect Dis
; 108: 96-101, 2021 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33991682
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To identify patterns of spatial clustering of leprosy.DESIGN:
We performed a baseline survey for a trial on post-exposure prophylaxis for leprosy in Comoros and Madagascar. We screened 64 villages, door-to-door, and recorded results of screening, demographic data and geographic coordinates. To identify clusters, we fitted a purely spatial Poisson model using Kulldorff's spatial scan statistic. We used a regular Poisson model to assess the risk of contracting leprosy at the individual level as a function of distance to the nearest known leprosy patient.RESULTS:
We identified 455 leprosy patients; 200 (44.0%) belonged to 2735 households included in a cluster. Thirty-eight percent of leprosy patients versus 10% of the total population live ≤25 m from another leprosy patient. Risk ratios for being diagnosed with leprosy were 7.3, 2.4, 1.8, 1.4 and 1.7, for those at the same household, at 1-<25 m, 25-<50 m, 50-<75 m and 75-<100 m as/from a leprosy patient, respectively, compared to those living at ≥100 m.CONCLUSIONS:
We documented significant clustering of leprosy beyond household level, although 56% of cases were not part of a cluster. Control measures need to be extended beyond the household, and social networks should be further explored.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Leprosy
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Infect Dis
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article