Análise do coeficiente de detecção da hanseníase na Paraíba durante o período de 2007 a 2012.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is a disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, considered a public health problem because it is an infectious disease which, if not diagnosed and treated early, can lead to complications and irreversible damage to man, besides having great social stigma. Among its various epidemiological indicators, highlights the detection rate of new cases of the disease, which determines the trend and evaluate the changes in the profile of endemic over time. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the overall detection rate of new cases of leprosy in Paraíba, Brazil during the period 2007-2012. METHODOLOGY: This is an epidemiological study, descriptive, documentary with a quantitative approach. The population consisted of new cases found in 12 counties headquarters of Regional Management of Health State of Paraíba, through database from Datasus - SINAN the period 2007-2012. The study was conducted between the months of January to May in 2014. RESULTS: The state of Paraíba notified 4,382 cases of leprosy in the period 2007 to 2012. From this total, 93.4% occurred in the population greater than 15 years, 50.4% were male and 50.7% were multibacillary cases. It is observed through this study that in the state of Paraíba, the detection rate of leprosy in the general population followed a downward trend since 2007 until 2012. At the same time, it is observed that in recent years the detection rate in the population under 15 has displayed an upward trend, justifying the need to intensify the efforts to control this disease. CONCLUSION: Annual studies about the detection rate of leprosy in Brazil are necessary, in order to know the pattern of the disease in several specific areas and direct actions aimed at reducing the indicators of this disease is needed.