Análise de variáveis sociodemográficas, clínicas e relacionadas ao serviço de saúde da hanseníase em uma macrorregião brasileira de alta prevalência

Abstract

AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between socio-demographic factors, and associated with the health service of a sample of patients with leprosy care health macroregion in the northeast of the State of Minas Gerais. Were also compared the prevalence of leprosy in this macroregion, with the State and federal prevalence coefficients, during the period from 2001 to 2010. METHODS: This cross-sectional study, which used the system database of reportable diseases information (Sinan)-leprosy, in the resident population on health care of the macroregion northeast of the State of Minas Gerais, in the period from 2001 to 2010, for a total of 3,429 reported cases. Some socio-demographic variables were analyzed (gender, age, residence, and education), clinics (operating according to the WHO classification and physical disability) and associated with the service (form of detection of new cases). The prevalence rate of leprosy in this macroregion was compared to federal and State prevalence coefficients. The associations between socio-demographic variables, clinics and associated with the health service were conducted by χ2 test and set in the Poisson regression model. Significance was set at p < 0.05.RESULTS: The disease was more common in women, adults, non-whites, individuals living in urban housing and houses with less than 8 years of study. The prevalence of Leprosy in children, adolescents, adults and the elderly was 2.52; 2.21; 24.69 and 9.20 per 10,000 inhabitants. With regard to clinical aspects, teenagers, adults and the elderly, illiterate and males were significantly associated with multibacillary leprosy operating classification and with the presence of some physical disability at the time of diagnosis (p < 0.05). The multibacillary : paucibacillary ratio in children, adolescents, adults and the elderly was 0.6; 1.2; 2.7 and 3.7, respectively. About 50% of individuals did not provide some sort of physical inability, during the diagnosis. The detection of new cases in the macro-region Northeast occurred mainly by spontaneous demand. The prevalence rate of leprosy in the macroregion of the Northeast, State and federal were 3.87, 1.36 and 2.83, respectively. Throughout the reporting period, the prevalence of Leprosy in the macroregion were significantly higher than State and federal coefficients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: the results obtained point to late diagnosis and prevalence of disease hidden. Such findings demonstrate the need for more primary care intervention and epidemiological actions towards the elimination of the disease