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Leprosy elimination phase in Alagoas, 2001-2022: an ecological study
Lucas Vinícius de Lima1, Gabriel Pavinati1, Rayssa Gysele Teixeira da Silva2
1Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
Summary
Leprosy rates are decreasing in Alagoas, Brazil, but some areas still have high disease burden. Caution is advised when using the Leprosy Elimination Monitoring Tool (LEMT) due to potential underreporting and underdiagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Control
Background:
- Leprosy remains a significant public health concern globally.
- Monitoring disease trends and elimination progress is crucial for effective control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiological landscape of leprosy in Alagoas, Brazil, from 2001 to 2022.
- To assess the progress towards leprosy elimination using the World Health Organization's Leprosy Elimination Monitoring Tool (LEMT).
Main Methods:
- Ecological study utilizing surveillance data from the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System.
- Analysis of disease detection and prevalence rates, temporal trends (joinpoint regression), and spatial autocorrelation (Moran's index).
- Classification of municipalities using the WHO's Leprosy Elimination Monitoring Tool (LEMT).
Main Results:
- Significant annual decreases observed in prevalence rate (-2.89%) and detection rates (general population -4.43%; under 15s -6.03%) between 2010-2022.
- Identification of high-incidence clusters in Jacaré dos Homens, Pão de Açúcar, and Carneiros municipalities.
- In 2022, municipalities were distributed across LEMT phases: 7% in phase 1, 40.2% in phase 2, and 26.5% each in phases 3 and 4.
Conclusions:
- Leprosy burden is trending downwards in Alagoas, but persistent high rates in certain municipalities require attention.
- The application of LEMT using secondary data necessitates careful interpretation, as low reported cases may not equate to true disease elimination due to underreporting and underdiagnosis.
