Computerization of leprosy records: national leprosy recording and reporting system in China

This paper describes the national system of leprosy recording and reporting in China and the computerization of records. The system was designed for data collection at local level and data entry by optically scanned or manual mode as well as for sophisticated data analysis. The major functions include data entry, data check, sum-up, maintenance, communication, inquiry, statistics, graph and print. A total of 17 options for epidemiological and clinical data analysis are available. Through the implementation for about 10 years, the system has gained widespread acceptance. This acceptance would facilitate introduction of computer analysis to other leprosy projects and other disease control programs in China. Up to 1998, a database of more than 740,000 records covering all the leprosy patients detected since 1949 had been established by this system.