EPIDEMIOLOGICAL APPROACH AND SPACE-TIME DIN MICA OF LEPROSY AND DISABILITIES IN THE POPULATION OF ALAGOAS
Leprosy; Epidemiology; Space-Time Analysis; Alagoas
Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an alcohol-acid bacillus
(ADR) with a predilection for skin and peripheral nerve cells. When
in contact with the body, this bacillus can cause neurological dermato lesions and,
therefore, physical, functional and psychological impairments. The high
incidence of infection is related to ecological factors. From this perspective, studies
make important advances in the conception of the natural history of
diseases, as they contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of
transmission of various pathologies, especially infectious diseases, such as
leprosy. This research is part of the larger project "Susceptibility factors to
leprosy in Alagoas: epidemiological, genetic and immuno-inflammatory aspects" and
its primary objective is to analyze the sand-time epidemiological dynamics of
leprosy in the state of Alagoas in the period 2010-2019 and identify factors of
associated susceptibility and underreporting. To this do so, this retrospective study
quantitative ecological nature involved confirmed cases of leprosy in the
years from 2010 to 2019 that have obtained adequate records since the recognition of
diagnostic form of the disease and the type of patient's entry into health services until the
reported cases, which counted 4739 cases. These were obtained in the
from October 2021 to February 2022 in the Injury Information System
(SINAN) of the State Secretariat of Alagoas. Based on the
Database of the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System
(DATASUS). The analysis is being structured in five stages (descriptive, temporal,
risk factors and underreporting) with the elaboration of tables, figures and graphs.
Through temporal analysis, it was possible to infer that new cases of leprosy in
population showed a decreasing trend (PCA/AAPC = - 3.0).
However, for new cases of the population under 15 years of age, the disease
presented a stationary trend which points out that the elimination of it in the
state is more illusory than real. In addition, despite the
physical disability in the diagnosis has a decreasing tendency, the indicator of
2 of physical disability in the diagnosis is stationary. This given alert to
a possibility of late diagnosis of the disease in the state of Alagoas. Still, it is worth
point out that the indicator of degree of physical disability in healing that assesses the quality of
attention and follow-up of new cases diagnosed until the completeness of the
treatment- has a decreasing trend, which points to a fragility in the
leprosy patients in the state. Still at this core, the indicator of
grade 2 of physical disability in healing has a steady pattern. It is expected that
this research is able to guide the identification of areas with greater vulnerability
in Alagoas, as well as the definition of priority areas for tackling the
leprosy. It is intended to produce and implement mechanisms to combat
pathology and its complications.