Epidemiological profile of leprosy cases in a Family Health Center

• Main Authors: Viviane Bezerra de Souza, Maria Rocineide Ferreirada Silva, Lucilane Maria Sales da Silva, Raimundo Augusto Martins Torres, Kilma Wandeley Lopes Gomes, Marcelo Costa Fernandes, José Musse Costa Lima Jereissati
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Universidade de Fortaleza 2013-03-01
• Series: Revista Brasileira em Promoção da Saúde
• Subjects: Leprosy; Epidemiology; Descriptive; Disease Prevention
• Online Access: http://www.unifor.br/images/pdfs/rbps/2013.1_artigo14.pdf

Objective: To reveal the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with leprosy between the years 2007 and 2008, in a Family Primary Healthcare Unit in the city of Fortaleza-CE, Brazil.Methods: Documentary, quantitative and descriptive study. The research sample consisted of all medical records of patients examined and diagnosed with leprosy in the period from 2007 to 2008, totaling an amount of 55. Data was transcribed, tabulated, numbered and presented in tables and charts. Results: It was observed a concentration of cases in economically active age group; females (37 - 67%); race brown (36 - 65.5%); low schooling level, mostly incomplete primary education (25 - 45.5%). The cure rate in 2007 was 95.5% (21 cases) and, in 2008, 57.2% (19 cases). The number of cases with multibacillary clinical forms was high, revealing the late diagnosis, leading to maintained transmission of the disease. Conclusion: Understanding the epidemiological profile and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with leprosy is of fundamental importance for the development of strategies directed towards this group, seeking public policies that meet the needs of health professionals and strengthen the activities of grievance prevention and health promotion among the population.