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Leprosy Control in India – A Lesson from Urban Area
Authors: Dan Amitabha, Roy Bibhash, Pai A.R, Jalaluddeen M, Kunal Kanti De
Number of views: 598
Introduction: In 2001, WHO declared global leprosy elimination was attained globally. The decline in the registered leprosy prevalence was almost 90% and new case detection was about 50% over the last two decades. Hooghly district of West Bengal, India is a low endemic area for Leprosy. Analysis of district level leprosy data was done to study the burden, pattern and profile of leprosy cases in urban area of Hooghly district.
Material and Methods: Data was collected on demographic characteristics and various indicators of National Leprosy Eradication Programme. Calculation was done as annual prevalence rate, annual new case detection rate, proportion of child cases, proportion of visible deformity and proportion of multi-bacillary patients, was calculated from 2003-2004 to 2008-2009. Geographical distribution of cases was done within the district. Data was analysed by using Epi info.
Results: Out of 5, 041, 97 6 population of Hooghly district, 66.5% was rural population and 33.5% urban population. The prevalence of Leprosy was 2.83/10,000 population in 2003-04 as against 0.70/10,000 population in 2008-09. The Annual new case detection rate was 1.6 per 10,000 population in 2003-04 as against 0.96 per 10,000 population in 2008-09. Overall Child case rate was 10% of the total newly detected cases.
Discussion and Conclusion: More than 80% of leprosy cases in urban area are of multibacillary type and more than 50% discontinuation rate is found in the Corporation and municipal areas. The municipal and urban areas are showing more drop outs as compared to the rural areas. Most of the urban areas are showing more than ten percent of the child case rate denoting a high rate of transmission of the infection.