Epidemiological and spatial profile of new leprosy cases notified at Feira de Santana (Brazil) between 2005 and 2015

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is an infectious disease of chronic evolution caused by Mycobacterium leprae and represents a public health problem. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological and spatial profile of new cases of leprosy, reported in the municipality of Feira de Santana -BA, from 2005 to 2015. METHODS: This is an epidemiological, descriptive study with a quantitative approach in that the data were collected from the Notification of Injury Information System. RESULTS: Between 2005 and 2015, 1239 new cases of leprosy were reported in the municipality in question. Of these cases, the largest number of cases occurred among males and in both sexes, brown individuals, aged 35-49 years and with low schooling, had the highest occurrence of the disease. As for the clinical form, the dimorph preponderated. And most people did not have any type of disability related to the disease. Regarding the spatial distribution of leprosy, the neighborhoods that presented the largest number of cases were: Tomba, Brasília, Calumbi, Gabriela, Campo Limpo, Mangabeira and the rural districts were Bonfim da Feira and Humildes. FINAL REMARKS: The epidemiological characterization and spatial distribution of the data becomes important for the intensification of health promotion and protection strategies, in order to reduce the occurrence of the pathology.